History Of Lacrosse: The Indians On Cornwall Island (Ontario, Canada) In The St. Lawrence River Produced 30,000 “HANDMADE” Hickory Lacrosse Sticks In 1965, Accounting For 90% Of World’s Supply (Sports Illustrated, June 21, 1965)

The sport of lacrosse is booming, and the Indians on Cornwall Island in the St. Lawrence River are rejoicing. The Indians on Cornwall provide 90% of the world's lacrosse sticks. In addition to supplying Canada and the U.S., the Cornwall stickmakers are now filling orders from hotbeds of lacrosse such as Australia, Ireland and Hong Kong as well as from new centers like Mexico, Switzerland and Italy.

“…Lacrosse sticks are handmade; no way has been devised to speed up the process of shaping a hickory frame and fastening a net of gut or leather to it…”

The sport of lacrosse is booming, and the Indians on Cornwall Island in the St. Lawrence River are rejoicing. The Indians on Cornwall provide 90% of the world’s lacrosse sticks. In addition to supplying Canada and the U.S., the Cornwall stickmakers are now filling orders from hotbeds of lacrosse such as Australia, Ireland and Hong Kong as well as from new centers like Mexico, Switzerland and Italy.

Until this year 30 Indians working for the Chisholm Lacrosse Manufacturing Company on Cornwall Island could meet the demand. Now 48 are working full time, and they will turn out somewhere around 30,000 sticks before the year is done.

Easton-Bell Sports, a leading manufacturer of sporting goods equipment, acquired privately held lacrosse equipment manufacturer Talon Lacrosse – prompting the development of a new Easton Lacrosse division. Together with Talon, the new lacrosse division will incorporate Easton’s innovative design, materials and technology into the tradition and culture of America’s fastest growing field sport.

Lacrosse sticks are handmade; no way has been devised to speed up the process of shaping a hickory frame and fastening a net of gut or leather to it. The Indians have tried mass-produced aluminum frames, but players would not go for them. When belaboring each other in the heat of play, as they are wont to do, lacrosse players feel there is nothing like a good hickory stick fashioned by Indians as of yore.

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