3. Fish Pots (Bubo) — Fish pots of various shapes, -sizes, 

 and styles are used in many localities but especially aroirnd coral 

 reefs. These are enticing; devices made in the form of rectan^'ular- 

 ovoid receptacles, generally with a non-return valve designed for 

 easy entrtnnce but difficult exit (fi^. 2). These contrivances are 

 generally made of bamboo splints woven together or, more recently, 

 of wire netting. In operation these traps are first baited v/ith 

 strong smelling substances such as meat or entrails of fowls, or 

 sometimes, it is reoorted, with an empty, clear glass bottle. They are 

 then sunk in some suitable location by means of stone or rock v/eights. 

 After a ueriod of some twenty-four hours or more they are hauled in 

 by raking a hooklike, weighted device back and forth over the ground 

 where they were set. The recovery of the gear is by trial and 

 error aided by ajproTimate fixes to visible landmarks. These con- 

 traptions are purposely left without buoys or markers in order to 

 prevent their being stolen by poachers. Ift'hen employed in respect- 

 able numbers, this method of fishing becomes a profitable commercial 

 venture. 



k. Lines — Another method employed in catching coral 

 reef fishes is the ordinary handline with single or multiple hooks. 

 The specifications of this gear are many and varied, depending pri- 

 marily ut)on the ideas and traditions of the fishermen in different 

 regions of the Philippines. This gear also varies according to 

 the si-^e and species being fished. A great many handliners operate 

 at night and employ artificial light on tiie theory that the bait 

 fishes attracted to the light serve to attract larger species which 

 can then be readily captured. While most fishermen operate indi- 

 vidually on a sort of subsistence fishing basis, many pursue this 

 type of fishing as a business. Often an investor engfiges fishermen 

 on a type of collective fishing; the investor supplying the gear 

 and supplies, end. in turn, having a monopoly to buy the catch. 



When operating at night the fishermen usually put out 

 from shore individually or in tiairs in a sailing canoe (banca) 

 for the reef they intend to fish; timing their departure to enable 

 them to arrive about sundown. At diaek the lights, generally one 

 or two kerosene pressure lanterns of from 5OO to 2000 candlepower 

 each, are lighted and the canoe allowed to drift. Each fisherman 

 is equip-oed with a small dip net and the first animals attracted 

 are usually a few small squids which are dipped uii for bait. The 

 squids in turn are then affixed to a small hook on a light line 

 and this arrangement is then put into operation and If.rger fish 

 generally round scads and/or small mackerels are taken. This 

 procedure continues until a dozen or so of ttoe latter are hooked 

 and these fish ere used as bait for the species it is intended to 

 take for market. Each bait fish is cut in half longitudinally and 

 a bait consists of a half. The head, very often, is discarded. 



JsTjanese fishermen, operating in the Philip jines, also 

 employed handlines before the war usually in waters as deep as 50 

 to 60 fs thorns. They fished from motor-propelled vessels with all 

 hpnds aligned nlong the gunwale with one hjuidline e^-ch. 



8 



