Fish caches (dechi, in Dogrib) were made from spruce logs built in a square
or rectangular shape like a cabin, but with walls only 4 or 5 logs high. During
the fall fish run, hundreds of fish could be stored as 'stick fish' inside the
cache for use during the winter as dog feed. The fish were caught during the fall
run and would freeze in the cache. Stringing 10 or more fish on a sharpened pole
by poking it through either their gills or tail makes stick fish. The sticks were
suspended inside the cache so that they did not touch the ground. The cache was
then covered with heavy tree trunks to make sure wolves, wolverines, bears or
other creatures would not disturb the fish. During winter when hunters and their
families returned by dog team, the cache provided a ready source of food for the
dogs. If the fish were unspoiled the people could eat them as well.
