Marek - Ainu Fishing Spear
Collected in late 1800s or early 1900s
Wood, iron, sealskin, vine
85 cm long
Cat. 132498
© The Field Museum
This fishing spear was one of the many Ainu pieces donated by Robert H. Baker's estate in 1912 and was probably collected in Hokkaido sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Spears like these were used to catch fish in the many rivers of Hokkaido, providing a main staple of the Ainu diet.
This particular spear is made from a piece of wood, a cord of twisted vines, a piece of sealskin, and a metal hook. The cord is attached to a piece of sealskin, to another piece of cord, and finally to the metal hook. This hook is nestled in an upward position but can be swiveled down by letting go of the cord. Other fishing spears of this type have smaller or larger metal hooks, but all have the swiveling function.
These spears, although they could be used from boats, could be put into a passing river or lake from the edge of the shore. Ice fishing was also done by boring a hole in the ice and using one of these spears. The fisherman would wait for a fish to pass and, holding the hook in its nestled position, would then spear it. He would then let the hook swivel down, trapping the fish from wiggling off the end of the spear and escaping. This was but one method to catch fish, however. Other methods included training dogs and using nets and traps.
(Commentary by Stev Weidlich)