darkhouse n MI, Upper Midwest, esp MN
A windowless ice-fishing shanty used esp for spearfishing; hence v phrr darkhouse spear(fish) to spearfish from such a shanty.
1904 Enterprise Mfg. Co. Catalogue 56, The above scene represents a fisherman in his movable “dark house” in the act of spearing fish through the ice. 1906 Hunter-Trader-Trapper July 73 MI, During the winter . . I spend my time spearing on the lake through a dark house. This is a new way to fish. 1938 Austin Daily Herald (MN) 3 Jan 1/5, The game warden also reported that a number of darkhouses are being used on the river to permit the spearing of carp through the ice. 1952 Minneapolis Star (MN) 20 Jan sec B 13/5, Rep. Stanley J. Fudro of Minneapolis said privately he’d introduce a bill to legalize hook and line angling from a darkhouse. The idea is to increase sport by permitting the angler to see the fish he’s trying to catch. 1981 Verbatim Letters swMI, We . . wonder if anyone . . knows the term “darkhouse” as it is used near Three Rivers, Michigan. It apparently refers to shacks put on iced-over lakes and rivers and used as shelters for spear fishers. It is not the same as the ice shack used for line fishing. 1984 Sioux City Jrl. (IA) 8 Jan sec D 5/2, Many fishermen prefer the warmth of a darkhouse, but I find them closeting and morose. 2000 Rapid City Journal (SD) 15 Feb sec D 3/1, Olson harvested the record-breaking fish . . while dark-house spear fishing on American Creek. 2008 Green Bay Press–Gaz. (WI) 16 Oct sec C 6/1, A third proposal for dark-house spearing for pike on outlying waters was defeated 14-7. 2023 Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN) 8 Sept sec C 8/4, Wohl and Bahr both said opposition could come from darkhouse spearing enthusiasts. 2024 Bismarck Tribune (ND) 23 Dec sec A 4/5, People required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 or older) to darkhouse spearfish must first register online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website.