Tsimshian Fish Hook
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.
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