Tsimshian Fish Hook

A fisherman would lash a barb to one arm of the hook and traditionally carved a “spirit helper” into the other arm to provide supernatural assistance.

Written by Mark McAvoy

 — Posted October 3, 2012
Fishing Hook
The Manitoba Museum, HBC Museum Collection

The Tsimshian, who lived along the northern coast of British Columbia, caught halibut by setting large V-shaped hooks on the bottom of fishing banks. Usually, the hooks were made of wood, bone, and spruce root. A fisherman would lash a barb to one arm of the hook and traditionally carved a “spirit helper” into the other arm to provide supernatural assistance. This example has twine threaded through the centre of what looks like a sea lion.


 

This article originally appeared in the October, November 2012 issue of Canada’s History magazine. 

This article is also available in French.

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