Fish Hook, Blade and Abrader

Object: abrader with fish head design

Use: sharpening, smoothing and shaping

Era: 2000 years old

Materials: sandstone

Size/ Dimensions: length: 67 millimetres (2.6 inches), width: 55 millimetres (2.1 inches), height: 7 millimetres (0.2 inches), and thickness: 5 millimetres (0.2 inches)

Excavation site: False Narrows Midden, Gabriola Island, B.C.

Current Location/Museum: Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Canada

Accession Number: DgRw4:305

Display Technique: in storage

Condition: fair, tip of nose has been broken off and glued back on

Description: Abraders, made of a coarse rock like sandstone, were used to smooth, shape or sharpen tools made of shell, bone and stone.

Object: slate blade

Use: blade for slate fishing knife

Era: 500 to 1500 years old

Materials: slate

Size/ Dimensions: length: 155 millimetres (6.1 inches), width: 35 millimetres (1.4 inches) thickness: 3 millimetres (0.1 inches)

Excavation site: DgRx 29:1 Nanaimo District

Current Location/Museum: Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Canada

Accession Number: DgRx 29:1

Display Technique: in storage

Condition: fair: cracked through the middle and glued back together

Description: Slate fishing knives were used for cutting up fish. The blade was attached, or hafted, on the top to a wooden handle. The bottom working edge was bevelled, or sloped to create a sharp cutting tool. It was important to properly fillet the fish, so it could be dried or smoked evenly, stored and eaten over the winter months. The thin slate fishing knife was the perfect tool for this. Fish were placed on wooden racks in the sun or over a fire. Dog Salmon (chum) were commonly smoked.

Object: fish hook

Use: fishing halibut or cod

Era: unknown

Materials: unknown; possibly Western Hemlock, Western Yew or Sitka Spruce root and bone.

Size/ Dimensions: length: 172 millimetres (6.8 inches), width: 95 millimetres (3.7 inches), thickness of wood: 8 millimetres (0.3 inches), length of barb: 102 millimetres (4 inches)

Collection site: unknown; acquired from a collector in 1946

Current Location/Museum: Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Canada

Accession Number: 6216

Display Technique: in storage

Condition: good

Description: These u-shaped hooks were used to catch ground fish such as cod and halibut.