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Which fish did Plateau peoples catch in rivers and streams?
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Plateau peoples relied on a variety of fish as their most important source of food, catching them in the rivers and streams of their region. The primary species they harvested included:1
- Salmon1
- Trout1
- Eels1
- Suckers1
These fish were caught using various methods, including one- or three-pronged fish spears, nets, and traps. Communities also constructed large fish weirsâstone or wooden enclosuresâto corral the fish. Because fishing was vital to their subsistence, they dried substantial quantities of their catch on elevated wooden racks to preserve it for winter consumption.1