The curved wood or antler-fishing rod was used to wind up the three-ply, plaited line that was produced from leg sinew of caribou. The length of line varied from ten to eighteen metres. The sinker was usually of bone or antler and a large hook was attached to it. By jigging with the type of hook and sinker seen here, the Copper Eskimo could secure tomcod. Note that the hook does not have barbs; the fish was immediately hauled in and not "played", as is common in modern sport fishing. This method permitted easy removal of the hook and the rapid return of the hook and line to the water. The use of one of these rods is seen in illustration 22.
The fish rake in the middle of this photograph was a most useful tool at those locations where fish could literally be raked. At the foot of a few waterfalls arctic char congregated in such large numbers that the Copper Eskimo had simply to pass the rake through the water in order to reap a rich harvest.
The leister, or fish spear, was used in lakes to take trout and char when they came to nibble at a lure which was jigged through a hole in the ice. The copper barbs on the tips of the prongs held the fish securely. The leister was also a useful tool when fishing at stone weirs. The previous illustration shows its use.
Courtesy: National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada (S80-576)
