COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 408 
A similar bag net (upena opule), about a fathom in length and with 
an oval mouth about 2 or 3 feet in width, is used for catching the 
opule, a decoy opule being used in the same manner as described above. 
Another kind of decoy fishing is with the lau melomelo, the decoy 
used being a billet of kauwila wood, one of the hardest in the islands. 
This is something like a club, being rounded at the ends, with one end 
smaller than the other, and a little ringed knob on the smaller end to 
tie a string to. It varies in length from 13 inches to 3 feet. After 
the proper incantations have been performed over it by a sorcerer or 
kahuna, it is charred slightly over a regulation fire. Having once 
attained its power great care must be taken by the fisherman that it 
does not lose it. Ifa woman should step over it or enter the canoe in 
in which it is placed the stick would lose its power. Kukuinut (candle- 
nut) and cocoanut meat in equal quantities are baked together. They 
are then pounded up and tied ina wrapping of cocoanut fiber (the sheath 
around the stem of a cocoanut leaf). Fishing is usually done in water 
of not more than 5 fathoms in depth. On arriving at the fishing-ground 
the stick is covered with the oily juice of the baked preparation and 
allowed to hang suspended a few feet from the bottom. The scent 
of the baked nut meat, in the opinion of the fishermen, has an attrac- 
tion for certain kinds of fish, which soon surround the stick and smell 
or nibble at it. In a short time a small bag net is dropped overboard, 
and maneuvered until its mouth is toward the suspended stick. The 
latter is then moved slowly into the bag, the fish following it. Two of 
the natives then dive and approaching the net gently, quickly close 
its mouth and give the signal to those in the canoe to haul it up. 
Should the fishing prove poor it is ascribed to the imperfect perform- 
ance of the incantations. This manner of fishing was formerly quite 
common on the west coast of Hawaii, but is not often practiced now. 
One of the common species around the island of Oahu is the malolo, or 
flying-fish, although but few of these are found around the other islands. 
There are two species, the large malolo and the small puhikii. In 
catching them a large bag net with a flaring mouth and very fine 
mesh is employed. In fishing the net is piled on a large single canoe, 
or sometimes a double canoe, and the start is always made early in 
the morning. ~ A number of canoes usually go out together, many of 
the occupants being women, as no particular skill is required on the 
part of the general hands. The work is directed by the kilo, or spy, 
who is generally in a light canoe manned by two or three hands. He 
stands up on the cross-ties of his canoe, and shading his eyes with 
his hand, watches for signs of the school. As soon as he discerns a 
strong ripple, which appears to indicate that the school 1s there, he 
signals to the rest of the canoes, which at onee surround it. The best 
place for dropping the net is quickly decided upon and it is then put 
overboard at the spot indicated by the kilo. When the net is all ready 
the canoes paddle very quickly in toward it, splashing the water with 
