412 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
wood, and tipped with a thin piece of iron 1$ to 2 feet in length. 
Most of the tips are perfectly smooth, but a few have a very slight 
barb. The spearing of fish is called ‘‘la O” by the natives. 
The spearing of the species inhabiting the rocks in shallow water is 
carried on under water. Diving toa favorable spot amongst the rocks, 
the fisherman braces himself in a half-crouching position and waits for 
the fish to come along. He only notices fish in two positions, those 
passing before and parallel to him and those coming straight toward 
him. He aims a little in advance of the fish, as by the time it is 
struck its motion has carried it so far forward that it will be hit on 
the gills or middle of the body and thus secured, but if the spear were 
aimed at the body it would be apt to hit the tail or entirely miss the 
fish. The spear is generally sent with such force that it goes right 
through the fish, thus bringing the latter up to the upper part of the 
spear, where it remains whilst the fisherman strikes rapidly at other 
fish in succession, should they come in single file as they usually do. 
The above-water spearing is generally for oopuhue (the swell-fish, 
Tetrodon hispidus), which is said to be poisonous, hee (octopus), and 
honu (turtle). The oopuhue is either speared from the walls of the 
fish ponds or in the open sea. . 
In the deep-sea line fishing spears with short poles are frequently 
employed in killing certain species brought to the surface on the lines. 
In fishing for puhi the latter are attracted out of their holes with 
bait and are then speared. 
Spears are frequently used in fishing for the hee (octopus), princi- 
pally by women. This animal generally makes its home in small 
circular holes in the rocks on the reefs. When the fisherwoman finds 
a hole that she thinks is occupied she runs the spear into it gently. 
Should a hee be there it comes out to see what is the matter. When 
entirely out of the hole the spear is run through it and it is brought 
to the surface. A smaller spear is usually carried, and with this she 
pricks or hits it in the head until the animal is stunned or killed, other- 
wise it might twine around her arms or legs and do some damage. 
Honu (turtle) are generally captured by means of spearing from the 
rocks along the shore where the honu congregate. 
DYNAMITING. 
Probably one of the most destructive methods of fishing is with 
dynamite, or giant powder, as it is generally called in the islands. 
This explosive was first used for this purpose in 1870. A stick of 
dynamite weighing about a quarter of a pound is capped and arranged 
with a fuse about 10 inches long. ‘The fisherman usually selects a 
deep hole, and paddling to within a short distance of it, he lights the 
fuse and when it has almost burnt to the cap he throws it from him 
into the hole. When it explodes every living thing within a consider- 
able radius of where it struck is either killed or stunned by the shock. 
Many fish rise to the surface and are picked up by the fisherman, An 
