746 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
number were put together in clinker-built style, except the bottom, 
that being composed of a solid piece, probably the bottom of an old 
canoe. This style is no doubt a departure from the original build. 
It is important that the bottoms of canoes should be of hard wood, in 
order to withstand the hard usage received in landing through the surf 
on the beach. Both ends of the canoe are alike, there being nothing 
to indicate bow or stern. The only distinguishing mark is the out- 
rigger, or that portion of it that sets in the water, one end being 
pointed, so as to offer little resistance. The outrigger float is 4 to 5 
inches wide and 3 inches deep; sometimes a round pole is used. The 
bow of the canoe is indicated by the sharp end of the outrigger, which 
is on the right of the man paddling, or starboard side. The outrigger 
is to give the canoe stability, as without it she would not set upright 
in the water, the width not corresponding to the depth. 
From the gunwale to the outrigger float of these canoes is on an aver- 
age 7 feet. The outrigger frame consists of 5 pieces of wood, namely, 
2 poles or crosspieces seized across the gunwales 43 feet apart, one 
forward and the other aft of center; 2 stanchions connecting cross- 
pieces to the outrigger float, and a brace which is seized to crosspieces 
just outside the gunwale. That part of the crosspieces between the 
gunwales answers the purpose of thwarts, the upper side being hewn 
toa flat surface. The outboard ends are seized to the perpendicular 
pieces, or stanchions, the length of which is, as a rule, the distance 
from the gunwale to the water line. These pieces are seized to the 
top side of the float, the seizings extending all the way round the float, 
but done so neatly as to offer little resistance to the water. The cross- 
pieces, float, and stanchions are braced with withes to prevent them 
from being twisted and thrown out of position by coming in contact 
with rocks, sunken logs, and branches of trees. The material used in 
seizing the outrigger frame together is cocoanut fiber twisted into a 
small line. Both paddles and oars are used, one equally as well as the 
other. 
We saw no canoes under sail. The large war canoes which were 
at one time common have gone out of existence. It is quite evident 
that the small canoes are built with less care than formerly. 
THE PAUMOTU ISLANDS. 
On the morning of September 21 the A/batross anchored off the 
village at Rahiroa Island, Paumotu group, where it remained until 
the morning of the 24th. 
So far as the investigations extended no suitable beaches for hauling 
a seine were found. Ina few places small collecting seines could be 
used, but great care is necessary in evading small pieces of coral, stick- 
ing up an inch or two through the sand, barely visible to the eye. 
One of these pieces is sufficient to render the net useless. Besides 
the live coral many pieces of fossil coral are scattered over the bottom. 
