Rich Traditions 
The Fraser River provided the Sto:lo with fish for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence of fishing on the Fraser River dates back 9000 years. Starting with the spring salmon and ending in the fall, the process of catching, drying and smoking fish was a major activity.
Fish were taken by a variety of methods including nets, traps, weirs, hooks and harpoons. Most of the fish was caught in a dip net. Dip nets were used to take fish directly from the rocky banks of the Fraser River. Bag nets were used for ocean trawling and river fishing. Bag nets were weaved from grass 10 to 12 feet wide were held between two canoes and filled with fish.
The hemp fibre for dip and bag nets grew in limited quantities. Most was obtained through trade with the Thompson near Lytton for dried salmon, saskatoons and soapberries. The inner bark was used, it was spun between the hand and thigh into strands of various thickness, usually two strands were twisted together to produce the fibre for the net. Inner red cedar bark line was also used to catch bigger fish and to construct netting. Yellow cedar bark line was used to catch smaller fish and was to weak for netting.
Community owned weirs were built in shallow areas of the river to catch fish. This ancient technique of building a fence stopped the fish, and they were caught with a three pronged leister or a noose at the end of a pole. When enough fish were caught, the weirs or fences were opened.
Smoking salmon with cherry and crab apple wood was a popular way to flavour and preserve fish. Fish that was smoked for a week would last for a year. Salmon would also be cut, stretched and hung to dry on racks in the hot and windy season of July. Winds were hot enough to allow natural oils of the fish to act as a preserver. Depending on the weather and location of the racks the fish would take one to three weeks to dry and be good for two years. Preserved fish would be placed in a storehouse.
Most hunting was done in the fall when the salmon drying season was over. Although hunting was not as important as fishing it was an important economic activity. Men who specialized in hunting would lead expeditions into the mountains to hunt goats. Black bear was also a favorite and sought after along with deer, moose, ducks, geese, and grouse. Ducks and deer were caught using a net made of a hemp fibre. Expeditions lasted several weeks and camps were set up. Meat was cut up, dried and smoked, and transported back to the longhouse.
Nootka Method of Spearing Fish
Source: Northwestern University Library
Photo by: E.S. Curtis
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