394 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
BOATS. 
Canoes.—The native Hawaiians use the canoe exclusively in fishing. 
Some of these, particularly the older ones, are very handsome in design 
and workmanship, the old-time native boat-builders having been espe- 
cially expert in their manufacture. The present generation has sadly 
deteriorated, however, and the canoes made now by natives rarely 
show very much skill in design and workmanship. 
The body of the canoe is usually hollowed out of the trunk of a koa 
tree (Acacia koa). This tree, formerly quite common, is now rather 
scarce, owing to the excessive demands made upon the supply for 
‘anoe-building and other purposes. It averages from 50 to 60 feet in 
height. The tree is first cut down, the branches stripped off, and then 
the trunk is cut to the length desired for the canoe. This trunk is 
roughly hewn to the shape desired and then brought down to the shore, 
where the final shaping is done. After the body is finished a rim 
about 6 inches in height is fastened to the upper part by means of 
wooden nails. The holei (Ochrosia sandwicensis), a tree from 6 to. 12 
feet in height, is preferred for this, but the ahakea (Bobea elatior), a 
tree 20 to 30 feet in height, is sometimes used. 
Each canoe is fitted with an outrigger, made by laying two long, 
slender poles, slightly curved at one end, across the canoe at about 
one-fourth of the distance from each end of tho latter, and so arranged 
that on one side they extend a few inches over the side of the canoe, 
while on the other they run out from 6 to 8 feet. The curved part of 
the poles is on this side. These poles are firmly lashed to the body 
of the canoe where they cross it by stout twine. A sapling, about 12 
feet long and 6 inches in diameter, 1s then lashed to the under side of 
these poles near the extreme ends, the sapling lying parallel to the 
body of the canoe and extending slightly beyond the cross poles at 
each end. The wiliwili (A7rythrina monosperma), a tree 20 to 25 feet 
in height, is generally employed in constructing the outrigger. The 
object of the outrigger is to balance the canoe, which is very narrow, 
when in the water. With ordinary care it is almost impossible to 
capsize a canoe fitted with an outrigger. The natives often make long 
journeys in them, frequently in quite stormy weather, and seem per- 
fectly at home in them. 
An ordinary canoe for one person would be about 18 feet long and 
about 17 inches wide, while a three-seated canoe would average 33 feet 
in length and 21 inches in width. 
The paddles have a long, slender handle, usually about 46 inches 
in length, with an oblong blade about 23 inches long by 13% inches 
wide. The wood of the paihi tree is frequently used, especially on 
Hawaii, in making the ordinary paddles, white the wood of the koaia 
(Acacia koava) is generally used in the manufacture of the fancy ones. 
The Gilbert Islanders on the Hawaiian islands use a slightly 
