BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 24? 



below, and a hook whose poiut stands almost perpendicnlar to the shaft 

 or shank is then fastened to the end of the line. Onlj^ the finest kind 

 of Main-itiana or tiger cowries are employed for this pnrpose, as the 

 octopns will not rise to a large-spotted or ugly one. The spots on the 

 back mnst be very small and red, breaking through a reddish-brown 

 ground ; such a shell would have the strongest attractions for an octo- 

 pus. Cowries with suitable spots, but objectionable otherwise, are 

 slightly steamed over a fire of sugar-cane husks. This has the effect of 

 giving them the desired hue. 



The fisherman having arrived at his fishing-grounds first chews and 

 spits on the water a mouthful of caudle-nut meat which renders the 

 water glassy and clear j he then drops the shell with hook and line 

 into the water aad swings it over a place likely to be inhabited by an 

 octopus. This being a voracious animal, when in its hole is always, 

 according to Hawaiian fishermen, keeping a lookout for anything eat- 

 able that nuiy come within reach of its eight arms. The moment a 

 cowry is perceived, an arm is shot out and the shell clasped; if of the 

 attractive kind, one arm after the other comes out, and finally the whole 

 body is withdrawn from the hole and attaches itself to the cowry, which 

 it closely hugs, curling itself all around it. It remains very quiet while 

 being rapidly drawn up through the water, till, just as its head is ex- 

 posed above water it raises it, when the fisherman pulls the string so 

 as to bring its head against the edge of the canoe and it is killed by a 

 blow from a club which is struck between the eyes. This must be done 

 rapidly, before the animal has time to become alarmed and let go the 

 cowry, when, should the arms be a fathom in length, it becomes a 

 dangerous antagonist, as there would be risk of the fisherman being 

 squeezed to death. Having eight arms, an octopus of such a size could 

 very well manage two or three persons, as the cutting off of one or 

 more of its arms does not affect the rest in the least. 



Torch-light fishing is practiced on calm dark nights. The fish are 

 either caught with small scoop-nets or are speared. Torch-light fishing- 

 is always done in shallow water where one can \vade. The fisherman 

 must be spry and light of step, passing through the water without a 

 splash to disturb the fish, which remain quiet, as if dazzled by the light 

 unless alarmed by the splashing or concussions in the water. The 

 torches arc made of split bamboos secured at regular intervals with 

 leaves, or of twigs of the spurious sandal-wood bound together in the 

 same manner. 



The Ilawaiians have four kinds of basket fishing. The first is with 

 a basket looking something like the coal scuttle bonnets of a hundred 

 years ago, and is woven ^^ith the air roots of the Freycinetia arhorca. 

 This is used for mountain shrimping, and women always attend to it. 

 They move in a crouching position through the water, moving small 

 stones and thrusting sticks under the large ones to drive the shrimiis to 

 a suitable place which is always some place where the grass, ferns, or 



