312 THE OCEAN. 



thicker than a quill, and perhaps three or four 

 inches in length. Those used in taking sharks are 

 formidable-looking weapons; some are a foot or 

 fifteen inches long, exclusive of the curvatures, and 

 not less than an inch in diameter. They are such 

 frightful things, that no fish, less voracious than a 

 shark, would approach them. In some the marks 

 of the sharks' teeth are numerous and deep, and 

 indicate the effect with which they have been 

 used."* 



The most curious, as well as most serviceable 

 hooks, are made of the inner part of the shell of 

 the pearl-oyster, or other large bivalves, the inte- 

 rior of which is pearly, called mother-of-pearl. 

 These have great care and pains bestowed upon 

 them : the smaller ones are cut almost circular, and 

 made to resemble a worm, thus answering the pur- 

 pose of bait as well as hook. A much larger kind 

 is that used for the capture of the albacore, bonito, 

 and coryphene. The shank is about six inches in 

 length, and nearly an inch in width, cut out of 

 pearl-shell, in the shape of a small fish, and finely 

 polished. The barb is formed separately ; it is an 

 inch and a half in length, and is firmly bound in 

 its place by a bandage of fine flax. The line is 

 fastened to this, and braided all along the curve of 

 the hook, and again fastened at the head. Some- 

 times a number of long bristles are attached to the 

 shell to mimic the appearance of the Flying-fish. 



The line is affixed to the end of a long bamboo 

 rod ; and the anglers, sitting in the stern of a light 



* Ellis. 



