1768-82  (1791)  Where the water is shallow, the canoes must be forced upward with long setting poles. . . .
1798  (1918)  Each canoe was provided with a mast and lug-sail, and also each man had a ten-foot setting pole, of good ash, shod with an iron ferrule at each end. . . .
1853  . . . for, although the spring floods were considerably abated, the water ran with great rapidity, and in some places was up to our middles; but with the help of a strong setting-pole, we got over with safety.
1933  The setting poles were thrown away at the height of land since they were not necessary on the journey downstream.