416 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The shell portion of the hook is barbed on the inner side with bone, 
and two tufts of hog’s bristles are attached to the barbed end at right 
angles to it, for the purpose of keeping the inner side up, so that the 
shell will lie flat on the surface of the sea. The bone portion of the 
hook is usually a dog tusk, but sometimes a piece of human bone, 
ivory, or tortoise shell is used. An iron hook, with the curved por- 
tion bent over so far that the point runs almost parallel with the shank, 
is sometimes used. Brass hooks are also employed at times. | In this 
fishing double canoes are generally employed, as it is easier to fish with 
them, and much safer, as the fishing is done a considerable distance 
from shore. 
The first object when the fishing-ground is reached is to find a 
school of aku. The fishermen usually do this by watching the sez 
gulls. When they hover steadily over one spot it is a pretty sure 
sign that there is a school of aku there. It is the habit of the fish to 
run against the tide, and as soon as the school has been sighted the 





ayia. 

Pearl Hook used in Aku Fishing. 
canoes are worked around in front of it, and the fish are drawn close 
to the boat by the fishermen throwing out a handful or two-of the 
small live bait they have with them. These small fish are usually the 
nehu, iiao, and the young of various species. There are three men in 
each canoe, but only one man in each engages directly in fishing, the 
others managing the canoes. These two men stand up in the stern of 
their boats, holding in their hands a bamboo pole about 12 feet long, 
with a line of the same‘length attached. The pearl hook is tied to the 
end of this Jine. By a quick movement the line and hook are slapped 
violently on the surface of the water and then drawn toward the boat. 
The aku are attracted by the noise, and seeing the glittering hook, 
which looks like a young fish, make a spring for it. As soon as the 
fish is hooked the line is swung up over the fisherman’s head so as to 
make almost a complete revolution. It is very necessary that the line 
should be kept taut, as, owing to the fact that the hook has but a slight 
barb, the fish would shake itself loose should the line slacken in the 
least. As the hooked fish is describing this revolution the fisherman 
