154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 
the surf occasionally sweeps. On the platform are many small pools 
and miniature lakes, in which fish abound, having been left there by 
the outgoing tide. Sometimes when the sea breaks heavily against 
the outer reef a portion of the platform is covered to a depth of a foot 
or more, and fish may then be seen swimming in toward the shore. 
In walking over the platform small schools of fish were frightened 
from pools and out from under shelving coral. In a few instances the 
seine was dropped in front of them, they striking it before realizing 
that anything lay in their path, but only three times was this method 
successful. . 
The best results were obtained by turning over rocks in the pools 
and standing by with dip nets to capture any fish that might come 
forth. Altogether some 30 species were collected, the largest number 
yet taken at one place. Previous to starting on the cruise it was gen- 
erally thought there would be no difficulty in capturing fish of every 
kind in great numbers at most of the South Sea Islands; but we soon 
learned that only occasionally can a collection be made representing 
many species, unless a long time be devoted to it, and of course this 
was out of the question. 
We were told that on the southeast side of the island spiny lobsters 
in considerable quantities are frequently taken at night by the aid of 
torches carried in the hand and fires built on the beach. The light 
has a tendency to bring them forth from their hiding-places, when 
they are either speared or are captured with dip nets. Occasionally 
lobsters are found in the lagoon near the village. One evening while 
at Fakarava fires were built along the beach to attract lobsters, but 
none came out. ‘The natives claim that only on the dark of the moon 
can lobsters be found; at other times artificial ight will not attract 
them from their hiding-places. 
The lobster is highly prized as food, and excursions lasting several 
days are made to obtain it, several families making up the party. It 
makes no particular difference how long they remain away from home, 
as on nearly all the islands forming the atoll huts are built to accom- 
modate parties of this kind, and under any circumstances it takes but 
a short time to construct a shelter to fill all the requirements for tem- 
porary housekeeping. 
In a small coral inclosure on the beach near the village were several 
large fish, all of the same species. They had been in the inclosure for 
some time, and were taken in the lagoon 5 or 6 miles offshore. They 
were said to be poisonous; but the same species caught on ground near 
the coast line were eaten almost every day. It was furthermore stated 
that most fish taken in deep parts of this lagoon were unfit to eat. 
Just why the same species of fish should be poisonous in one locality 
and edible in another, from places separated by only a few miles, is 
hard to say. One of the captive fish was caught and placed in alcohol. 
