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Florida native methods of hunting and fishing

Source: Early History of the Creek Indians and Their Neighbors #121

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Deer were stalked, as we know from a picture of Le Moyne's and the following description accompanying it:
"The Indians have a way of hunting deer which we never saw before. They manage to put on the skins of the largest which have been taken, in such a manner, with the heads on their own heads, so that they can see out through the eyes as through a mask. Thus accoutered they can approach close to the deer without frightening them. They take advantage of the time when the animals come to drink at the river, and, having their bow and arrows all ready, easily shoot them, as they are very plentiful in those regions."7 The only difference to be noticed between the method illustrated here and that known to have been used north and west is the use of the entire deerskin instead of the head only.

The spears spoken of and illustrated by Le Moyne were probably used in killing fish; probably fishhooks were also in use. The only method of fishing about which we have direct information, however, was by means of fish traps or weirs. Some are figured by Le Moyne,8 and Ribault says that they were "built in the water with great reeds, so well and cunningly set together after the fashion of a labyrinth, with many turns and crooks, which it was impossible to construct without much skill and industry." ' Among the fish given to the French were "trout, great mullets, plaice, turbots, and marvelous store of other sorts of fishes, altogether different from ours." 2

Ribault mentions crabs, lobsters [Note: Perhaps the "lobster" was the "langosta"' mentioned by Fontaneda, p. 387.], and crawfish among the articles of diet.2 Laudonniere received presents of fish, deer, turkey cocks, leopards [panthers], and little brown bears." 4 An early Spanish writer says that the natives of San Pedro (Cumberland Island) "sustained themselves the greater part of the year on shellfish (marisco), - acorns, and roots." 5

Alligators formed quite an item in the Floridian bill of fare, and Le Moyne thus describes how they were hunted:
"They put up, near a river, a little hut full of cracks and holes, and in this they station a watchman, so that they can see the crocodiles [or alligators] and hear them a good way off; for, when driven by hunger, they come out of the rivers and crawl about on the islands after prey, and, if they find none, they make such a frightful noise that it can be heard for half a mile. Then the watchman calls the rest of the watch, who are in readiness; and taking a portion, ten or twelve feet long, of the stem of a tree, they go out to find the monster, who is crawling along with his mouth wide open, all ready to catch one of them if he can; and with the greatest quickness they push the pole, small end first, as deep as possible down his throat, so that the roughness and irregularity of the bark may hold it from being got out again. Then they turn the crocodile over on his back, and with clubs and arrows pound and pierce his belly, which is softer; for his back, especially if he is an old one, is impenetrable, being protected by hard scales."4 We must, of course, discount the man-eating proclivities attributed to this animal, but the description of the hunt may nevertheless be perfectly correct.

We are also indebted to this author for the only extant account of the methods pursued in preserving game and fish: 
"In order to keep these animals longer they are in the habit of preparing them as follows: They set up in the earth four stout forked stakes; and on these they lay others, so as to form a sort of grating. On this they lay their game, and then build a fire underneath, so as to harden them in the smoke. In this process they use a great deal of care to have the drying perfectly performed, to prevent the meat from spoiling, as the picture shows. I suppose this stock to be laid in for their winter's supply in the woods, as at that time we could never obtain the least provision from them."7 The picture to which reference is made shows such a frame surmounted by several fish, a deer, an alligator, a snake, and some quadruped about the size of a fox.

This, and a statement by Le Challeux, are the only references to snake eating which the various narratives contain, although the last author speaks of the eating of lizards.1 It may be suspected that this picture is drawn from the imagination of the illustrator rather than from direct observation, for it is improbable that such animals were dried without being dressed. The description of the general drying process agrees very well, however, with what we know of this process elsewhere in the South.  Le Challeux says that they used fish grease in place of butter "or any other sauce." 2 
(Swanton)