Historic Hood River
Where’s My Fish?
2-7-2017
Notes
Again, not Hood River, but I learned several things researching this image. The birds are indeed pelicans (American White Pelican to be precise). Their range did include Great Falls, Montana, where I suspect the image was taken. And those boats are a special craft designed for duck hunting.
Photo courtesy the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon.
L.E.
My husband says, "definitely duck hunting boats".
Arthur
Is that a gas engine on the boat? Can only guess how loud and dirty it was. Hard to believe it didn’t scare away every duck for miles.
Longshot
Those boats would probably seen a lot of uses besides duck hunting. Fishing, other forms of hunting, ferrying people and goods across the river, etc. The larger one must have an engine was well as I don’t see oar locks or thole pins.
L.E.
This is what I am told….They are called a "layout boat". Hunters lie down in them and cover up with grass and reeds. They want to have as low a profile in the water as possible.
The larger boat with the higher sides, is also a layout boat, but would be used out in deeper water hunting for diving ducks. The higher sides help prevent the waves from splashing in.
Gorgecat
The White Pelicans are making their way back down the Columbia over the last 10 years. You will see them in some places along the river, mostly East of Hood River.