At the eastern end of Piiraai Island there is a native coral stone semi-circular fish 

 trap into wtiich the natives drive schools of goat-fish and other small species. 



In view of the abundance of fish and shell fish around Eniwetok, it seems unnecessary 

 to recommend any change or attempted improvement in native fishing methods, as they are 

 able to supply subsistence needs by only an hour or so of fishing per day. Several of the 

 natives were given an opportunity to use the sling type spear of Hawaiian design and also 

 our large throw nets, but other than the novelty of it, they did not appear to be interested. 

 Their own spears are homemade, without barbs, and are set in a wood handle, the overall 

 length of spear and handle being between six and seven feet. They do not have throw nets. 

 Fish hooks were very scarce. 



B. Kft'AJALEIN (Population 751 - 1%6) 



(August 16-17) 



The islands of this low and sandy atoll resemble Eiiiwetok very much in having an 

 abundance of fish on both the lagoon and seaward in shallow waters. Small goat-fish 

 ( Pseudupeneus ) up t-o eight inches and striped surgeon fish ( Hepatus triostegus ). about 

 seven inches long, are very abundant and easily taken with throw nets. Outside the reef, 

 cr«valle (Caramc sp.), up to ten pounds, are also quite common, but wild. They could be 

 taken by trolling or handlining just outside the breakers. At the time of the survey, there 

 was not even subsistence fishing to any extent, for very few natives were left in the 

 vicinity of Kwajalein because of the atomic bomb experiments. Most of tnose left are 

 employed by, and receive subsistence from, the Navy, and do not fish for a living. 



C. AILINGIAPALAP ATOLL (Population about L200 - 1946) 



(August 25-26) 



Pigatyelang Island . The reef on the lagoon side is very rough, with many caverns, and 

 drops abruptly to three or four fathoms. Outside of the reef a few coral heads extend from 

 the bottom to within a fathom of the surface. Within this area reef-fishes are very abundant, 

 although wild and difficult to get close enough to for spearing. Among the commonest species 

 are red and blue parrot fish ( Callyodon sp.), several species of siirgeon fish ( Hepatus sp.), 

 butterfly fish ( Chaetodon sp.), and Moorish idols ( Zanclus canes cens ). There were also 

 many small giant clams up to 12 inches. Sea cucumbers ( Holothuria ) were rare. The natives 

 stated that the Japanese looked into the possibility of producing trepang (dried sea cucumbers), 

 but found that the supply of sea cucumbers was not sufficient to warrant it. The Japanese 

 planted 5,000 trochus shells on the outside reef on the seaward side in 1938. Tl.e planting 

 was done by Okinawan fishermen vho came one day, planted the shells, and left immediately. 

 The shells were dumped over the side of the boat and none has been harvested (to September, 

 194-6) by the natives, as there has been nomaricet for them during the war yeai-s. Trochus 

 shells ( Trochus niloticus ) are not used for food by the natives, consequently almost the 

 total number planted should be available, pliis the natural increase since 1938. These 

 shells should not be harvested until June 1947, when all of the shells of good quality over 

 three inches in diameter should be harvested. 



Since there are around 1,200 people on these islands and only a few pigs and chickens, 

 the inhabitsints must depend largely on fishing for their protein food. The men go fishing 

 practically every day. They formerly had throw nets, but due to the war these are now worn 

 out, and there is no twine for replacement. The natives depend mainly on spears and on 

 collecting small giant clams ( Tridacna ) and other shell fish. For the entire population 

 there are only two short seines of about two inch square mesh, and an average of one fish 

 hook for ten men. Turtles are quite rare here and are only a minor item in the diet. 

 Although most of the fishing is done by men, the women somel^imes use small hand nets (Fig. 2) 

 to catch small fish on the reef. The natives formerly used feather lures for trolling from 



