Can you post your net weight finds?

[BrettCo124]

Hey everyone,

Can you post examples of net weights you’ve found? I have never found one but would like to know what to look for. I know there are several varieties of them, so I’d love to see different types if at all possible.

Thanks!

Brett

 

[unclemac]

Columbia river ones look like this...

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Columbia river ones look like this...

I have a few just like that one from here in southern Ohio. I've seen others from different parts of the country that basically look the same. The form would be perfect for this purpose and really shows no signs of being used for anything else. On almost every example I have see the only work on them is in the notches. I'd have to dig them out to get pictures so not tonight.

 

[ColonialDude]

I'm on the road right now for work but will post some when I return home. I actually found about a dozen stacked together on an eroded river bank. I suspect the net had been folded and placed there, and nobody came back for it.

 

[mainejman]

Personal finds from Maine.Some were surface finds some were dug...mjm

 

[Charl]

Here are a couple of average from Rhode Island. Left, from a field, and right, from a beach:




And there is nothing average about these. First found by a friend on a beach. 30 lbs.



And here is one with three notches found by a friend on the same section of beach as the 30 pound example. Estimated weight 80 lbs. My friend told me he saw this one come and go under the sands for years on this beach, and just left it. "Say what!?" says I. So he kept his eye out till it showed up again, as seen in the in-situ. The third notch is facing the viewer in last two photos. And no, my friend did not break his glasses as seen in second photo. They come apart that way.

These big ones might be anchors. Roger Williams, in the 1600's, reported the Narragansett made sea worthy dugouts that could carry 40 men.....

 

[jamus peek]

Grooved heat treated sandstone.



This is another triangle type. I believe its soapstone and has diagonal parallel engravings and very well polished. One of the engravings is full grooved. Sorry for the bad pics you may have to open up all the way to get a better look.

I have found 3 like this full groove on top and bottom corner.

Both sides are pecked in and polished. Net weights here are well worked even the basic ones like this.


These are notched on one side some are oval shaped some circle shaped.

Im speculating that this was a 3/4 grooved axe that then became a hammerstone and finally retired to a netweight. In reality probably not.lol! The business end is flat with little wear. All these are found along an ancient salmon run. Big fish big weights.

Plummets are usually knobbed or grooved. This has vertical engravings with some diagonal engravings. If you look closely the right corner is knobbed and grooved.I thought possibly soapstone it seems to have a chalky interior.

I am being loose with the term netweight. All these show signs of being hung along a salmon run.

These are some that i had saved on my phone. Ill post some basic pear shaped grooved ones that are more recognizable and some more unique ones when i get a chance.

 

[BrettCo124]

Thanks everyone! This is so helpful. I appreciate everyone’s contributions.

 

[mainejman]