SENSORY BIOLOGY: PACIFIC SHARKS 605 



scarcity of fish; people from Satawal have consistently met an important 

 part of their protein requirements by sailing to an atoll about 75 km (47 mi) 

 distant and exploiting the abundant fish resources there (McCoy 1974). 

 Whatever the full explanation, the renown of Fais for shark fishing, as well as 

 its cultural preoccupation with sharks, is spread throughout Micronesia. 

 Sharks are not only eaten but are also used as the most valuable gifts, art 

 motifs, etc., on Fais. 



Training for Shark Fishing— Carved sharks, such as the one shown in 

 the author's photograph accompanying this article, are commonplace toys of 

 children in Fais, and young boys maneuver the sharks, together with model 

 boats, much as urban children in the United States maneuver model cars and 

 trucks. Although it is difficult to know exactly what knowledge about shark 

 behavior is gained at that stage, the play undoubtedly contributes to the 

 eventual expertise of many young shark fishermen. 



When boys are about nine years old, their fathers start taking them out in 

 canoes to watch shark fishing. Several years of observation are considered 

 essential before a boy is allowed to participate outside a canoe. Older men 

 judge the competence of each boy, and at about the age of 12 a boy may be 

 trusted to fish for his own shark in the usual way. Even then, the beginner 

 customarily starts with a small hook that is more likely to catch one of the 

 smaller sharks. 



Shark Fishing Techniques— The adult shark fishermen swim out over 

 deep water, hanging onto a log or stout pole about 150 to 200 mm (6-8 in.) 

 in diameter. They carry a line about 61 m (200 ft) long, with a wire leader 

 and steel hook at the end. The hook is baited with any kind of small fish. As 

 soon as the fishing line is thrown out, the man splashes in the water with his 

 hands to attract the sharks. Individual sharks may be spotted underwater and 

 pursued by a fisherman, who thus increases his chances of obtaining a prize 

 specimen. 



Once the shark is hooked, the fisherman pulls the line over one end of the 

 log, in order to bring the shark's head up against the end of the log. If the 

 shark is a hammerhead, the lateral projections of the head are bent 

 ("broken"), putting out of operation the visual, olfactory, and other sensory 

 inputs from the head extensions. The fishing line is used to tie the body of 

 the shark to the log. During the tying-up procedures, several other fishermen 

 may help; since this is an everyday type of fishing, involving many people, 

 there are many experienced men if help is needed 



Species of Sharks Caught— Three kinds of sharks are reported to be 

 most common among the catches around Fais. From outline sketches and 

 photographs, Fais islanders identify these as (a) "doap"— hammerhead, 

 Sphyrna, (b) "poub"— whitetips, Triaenodon, and (c) "pougle uch"— a 

 species of gray shark, not completely identifiable from the descriptions. 

 Four- to six-foot sharks are commonly captured, but six-foot sharks are 

 considered about the maximum size that can be taken in this way. Fisher- 

 men from Fais report that the sizes of sharks caught seem to be getting 



