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fish hatchery is part of the Bonneville Dam complex. A section of
the hatchery contains a sturgeon pond with a glass viewing area below
water level. As the Corps continued west, down the Columbia River,
more Indian villages were engaged in sturgeon fishing. This curious
looking behemoth became a staple of the Americans' diet while stationed
at Fort Clatsop. Both Captains complained of the high bartering price
the Natives asked for this fish. Maybe the labor and courage it took
to land one of these sturgeon with primitive fishing gear set the
price. On February 28, 1806, near the end of the Fort Clatsop stay,
Lewis managed to purchase "a part of a Sturgeon for which we
gave a few fishing hooks." He would have liked a whole sturgeon
to feed the entire Corps for several days but couldn't afford it.
The locals still fish for sturgeon - with much better equipment. |
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