These three objects, two sinker stones and a wood and bone hook, are part of the Lincoln County Historical Society’s collection and are on display at the Burrows House Museum in Newport.
The smaller sinker stone with a drilled hole was likely used to weigh the bottom edge of a gill net to keep it taut as shown in the illustration. The second grooved sinker stone was likely used in conjunction with hooks similar to the example for halibut fishing in the other illustrations.
Oregon’s coastal tribes used objects and methods like these for thousands of years to thrive in the Pacific Northwest.
The artifacts are from the collection of the Lincoln County Historical Society and the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center. The illustrations are from “Indian Fishing, Early Methods on the Northwest Coast” by Hilary Stewart.
First published in 1977 and unavailable for several years, the University of Washington Press describes Indian Fishing as more than a sterile account of the technology of fishing but considers the momentous role of fish and fishing in the lives of the Northwest Coast peoples. A classic, thoroughly researched and informative text, it examines fishing techniques of the peoples who have lived on the coast for over 9,000 years, revealing their rich and complex culture.
In describing her work, the University of Washington Press said Stewart gathered material from museum archives, fish camps, and coastal village elders to document the Native heritage of handmade hooks, lines, sinkers, lures, floats, clubs, spears, harpoons, nets, traps, rakes, gaffs, and more. With more than 300 clear and detailed drawings, she illustrates how the tools were made and used. She twisted cedar bark and nettle fibers into cod fishing lines, and steam-bent a stem of yew into a halibut hook. The book covers everything from how the catch was butchered, cooked, and preserved, to the prayers and ceremonies in gratitude to the fish, as well as customs and taboos that demonstrated the peoples’ respect for this life-giving resource.
The Burrows House is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 13-17, and free for children under 12.
- Historical photos and text provided by the Lincoln County Historical Society in a partnership with YachatsNews. To learn more about the society and local history, visit its website here. A sampling of historic images from the LCHS collection can be seen at OregonDigital.org
