Halibut Hook

Item number Nbz686 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

U-shaped, bent metal hook, one sharp end bent inwards at an angle, the upper end bent outwards. A loop of knotted twine is attached to middle of upper arm; remains of cotton cord are coiled around the front arm.

History Of Use

The collector's notes said: "This hook was traded from Indians on a small island covered with cedar handmade board houses somewhere between Nanaimo and mouth of Jervis Inlet, B.C." There are only a few islands in the area to which this information may refer. They are: Thormanby Island, Lasqueti Island, Texada Island, Nelson Island and Hardy Island. A map showing village sites of the Northern Coast Salish in the Handbook of North American Indians, shows that the smaller Thormanby island had a village site that was known as sxwelap (deep furrow). Village sites are not indicated for the other islands previously mentioned (see Kennedy and Bouchard 1990:442-3).

Specific Techniques

This hook is modeled after the traditional halibut hooks made of steamed and bent wood. Instead of a bone barb, the metal has been bent inwards. They were attached in pairs by string to a pliable twig; weighted with a stone sinker, attached by string to a horizontal rope (Stewart).