310 THE OCEAN. 



now commenced paddling with all their might, while 

 the headsman produced a great noise by stamping on 

 the hollow box of the canoe. The Flying-fish, which 

 were securely feeding at the outer edge of the reef, 

 terrified by the noise and splashing of the oars, 

 darted out to sea. The torch answered a double pur- 

 pose ; enabling the headsman to discern his prey, and 

 dazzle the eyes of the fishes ; and as they dashed past 

 the canoe, on the surface of the water, he thrust 

 forward his net, and turned it over- upon them. 

 Many of the natives have acquired great skill in 

 this exercise, and the quickness of their sight, and 

 the celerity of their movements are astonishing; so 

 that sometimes vast quantities of fish are taken in 

 this manner.* 



A large number of fishes are taken with the hook, 

 as by more cultivated nations ; and with all the 

 superiority in art, and all the advantage of metals 

 possessed by Europeans, the native-made hooks are 

 preferred, as far more effective than ours. Many 

 of them are really beautiful productions, and, when 

 we consider their total want of metallic tools, ex- 

 cite our astonishment at the skill and ingenuity of 

 the manufacturers. Our hooks are all made on one 

 pattern, however varying in size; but the forms 

 of theirs are exceedingly various, and made of dif- 

 ferent substances, viz., wood, shell, and bone. " The 

 hooks made with wood are curious ; some are ex- 

 ceedingly small, not more than two or three inches 

 in length, but remarkably strong ; others are large. 

 The wooden hooks are never barbed, but simply 



* Missionary Enterprises, p. 270. 



