Spearheads such as this would be used to make fishing spears.
Native American people came up with some ingenious ways to catch fish from both inland waters and the oceans. Many of our modern fishing methods are derived from these early inventions proving the efficiency of native fishing tools. These ideas come not only from Native Americans on the mainland, but from indigenous island people as well.
Bows and Arrows
American Indian tribes were skilled in catching game using bows and arrows. The arrowheads were usually made of sharpened flint or obsidian and could pierce the hides of deer, buffalo, bear and wolves. By modifying this hunting weapon, the bow and arrow could be used for fishing. Natives would tie a rope on the end of the arrow, shoot the fish and then haul the fish out of the water with the rope.
Spears
Spearheads were shaped like arrowheads, only larger. They had a tang, or indented area that would fit into a slotted space on the end of a long stick. The stick and the spearhead would be fastened with rawhide ties or pieces of twine. Another version was a set of three sharp blades made out of stone tied to the end of a stick to make a three-pointed spear. The fisherman would wade out into the water and quietly wait for a fish to swim by. He would quickly aim and spear the fish.
Nets
Native Hawaiians were very proficient at using nets to fish. The earliest nets were actually traps that looked like baskets. Size varied depending on the type of fish being sought. Large rectangular nets, made out of olona fiber, were set up in the ocean from the shore or from canoes. These nets would be laid out in a giant arc and the fish would be caught as the ends of the net were drawn together. In the Bishop Museum, in Honolulu, Hawaii, there are early specimens of this type of net that are up to 92 feet long. If you have ever been to a luau and participated in the traditional hukilau ceremony, this is the type of net used.
Lures
Ancient Hawaiians used lures to catch octopus. Using a cowry shell on the end of a line, usually made of olona fiber, the fisherman would drag and wiggle the shell in the water to lure the octopus. The octopus would grab onto the cowry shell and with a quick, jerking motion, the hook that was attached to the shell would be firmly imbedded into the creature. The catch was then hauled into the canoe.
Related posts
Fishing lures are an important part of fly fishing. Fly fishing is a unique type that has been used for hundreds of years because of its success rate. One key aspect of fly fishing is the way in w...
There are many native Hawaiian crafts.Hawaii is an island state whose residents have a rich history of arts and crafts. The craftsmen use different materials to produce these crafts, materials tha...
Creating your own fishing lures can be a fun and rewarding hobby. The basic premise is simple: create something that a fish would want to eat and put a hook on it. But the materials that can be us...
Knife making has changes over time. Native Americans used two stones to form a sharp-pointed end.Native American tribes have made their own tools for hundreds of years, and, although technology ha...
Native American dance staffs are used in traditional ceremonies.A Native American dance staff or stick is a unique part of the dance ritual used during campfire dances. Often they were used in war...
