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Longer Description

Wooden fish hook bent into an egg-like shape, with cedar bark wrapping near ends and twisted cedar bark line. The hook is smoothly and plainly carved from yew wood. It has been steamed and bent into an egg-shape, the two ends overlapping to one side of the 'top' of the egg. One end narrows before widening slightly and forming a conical point. Just below the conical point is tied a length of twisted cedar bark rope. The other end is carved to a point. A plain strip of cedar bark is wrapped around this end and around the top of the egg to the other side of the hook, and across the hook itself. Another strip of cedar bark is tied to this configuration and is wound around the width of the hook, supposedly to retain the hook's shape. [CAK 29/06/2009]

Description

Wooden fish hook bent into an egg-like shape, with cedar bark wrapping near ends and twisted cedar bark line. [CAK 29/06/2009]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge” :
The hook was viewed alongside other fish hooks and clubs on Monday, Sept 14, 2009. Haidas consistently identified this hook as a cod hook, and some specified that it would be used for black cod. The local name, skil t'aawal, was provided by Candace Weir. The identifications were based on the smaller size head of this hook as well as that of 1923.71.40. Such small heads were generally used to catch cod or skate. [CAK 03/02/2010]

Within the Haida project's Flickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/haida_prm), Nika Collison identified a similarly shaped hook, 1923.71.40, as a black cod hook. [CAK 02/07/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - [1 of] 2 large fish-hooks, single strips of wood bent into shape with recurved point and bound so as to retain shape. [?LMM 1990 8]

Accession Book Entry - 17 April Stevens sale room - (Lots. 214, 242, 246, 255 & 256) Specimens collected by Capt. G. T. F. Pike, R.N., H.M.S. "Virago". viz:... [1 of] 2 large fish-hooks, single strips of wood bent into shape with recurved point and bound so as to retain shape. GOLD HARBOUR, W. coast of QUEEN CHARLOTTE IDS. (134, 135).... Pd by cheque 17 April 1923 16-2-0

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 8 6 98]

Pre-PRM label - 135 GOLD HARB. [MJD 02/04/2009]

Written on object - Fish-hook, GOLD HARBOUR, W. QU. CHARLOTTE ID coll by Capt. Pike, 1900 (135) Purch. 17.4.1923 (Stevens) [MJD 02/04/2009]

Written on object - 135 [MJD 02/04/2009]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]