BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 255 



meiisc bag- from 3G to 24 fatlionis in tleptli, sinall-ineslied and narrow 

 at the extreme end, but widening out into an immense Oaring mouth, 

 with long nets IG to 20 fathoms deep attached on each side and called 

 its ears. This is swept from one side to the other of the harbor, scoop- 

 ing up every kind of fish. A great many sharks 6 feet in length are 

 sometimes caught in it, but the net is generally used when the mullet 

 is in roe and is designed for the capture of large quantities of that fish. 

 It requires a great many hands to manage it. 



A large bag-net, somewhat smaller than the "kolo," but of the same 

 general shape, is sometimes used. Two ropes of 300 or 400 fathoms in 

 length, with " ki" leaves attached, and generally the rope of two or more 

 "ohua" nets joined, are piled on to a large double canoe, which is taken 

 out 2 or 3 miles from shore, attended by a fleet of from sixty to one 

 hundred canoes. The head fisherman always goes on the canoe con- 

 taining the net and ropes. Arrived at the proper distance, w^hich must 

 be just opposite the final drawing place, the end of one rope is joined 

 to that of the other, and two canoes, manned by eight or ten strong 

 men, take the other end of the rope, one each, and start in opposite 

 directions and exactly parallel with the shore, while the double canoe 

 remains stationary till all the rope is paid out. In the mean time the 

 rest of the canoes have divided into two companies and follow the two 

 leading canoes, stationing themselves at certain distances on the rope 

 and helping to pull it. When the rope is all paid out, the two leading 

 canoes then curve in to form a semicircle, at the same time always mov- 

 ing towards the shore. When a perfect semicircle has been made by 

 the rope the double canoes and all the others move gradually forwards 

 with it, while the leading canoes are pulling with all their might straight 

 in to the shore. When either end is landed the men immediately leap 

 out and taking hold of the line pull on it, at the same time going to- 

 wards each other, which has the eHect of narrowing the semicircle, while 

 most of the canoes keep backing on to the double canoe, which always 

 keeps the center. Arrived at a suitable place, which is always a clean 

 sandy one a few rods from shore, the ropes are untied and attached to 

 each eiid of the net; men, women, and children now gather on the rope, 

 especially where it joins the net, and make a great disturbance with 

 their feet, which drives all the fish into the net. Eope and net are 

 finally drawn ashore. 



We have two kinds of fish ponds or inclosures: Fresh-water ones, from 

 half an acre to 2 or 3 acres in extent; and salt-water ponds, generally 

 very large and inclosing an area of many acres. The salt-water ponds 

 are of two kinds — those entirely closed, and in which fish are fed and 

 fattened ; and those surrounded by a low wall that is submerged at 

 high tide and has openings, which are walled on each side like lanes 

 leading in or out of the pond. 



The lanes, or fish-runs, are from 15 to 20 feet in length and radiate 

 from the wall inside and rnt. Ti.cy are of about 2 feet in width at the 



