760 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
canoe by three crosspieces. The float and other parts of the outrigger 
did not seem to have been made with any particular design; any piece 
of wood that was at hand seems to have been used. Bow of the canoe 
straight, with a sort of a billet-head projecting outboard; stern raking; 
bottom straight fore and aft and flat thwartships. This seems to be 
the prevailing style all through the Paumotus. The dugout part of 
the canoe was 13 inches thick. It is no doubt necessary in these 
waters for the bottoms of canoes to be heavy, for in landing through 
the surf they are frequently subject to hard usage. Two other canoes 
measured 11 and 13 feet, respectively, and turned up considerably at 
the bow and stern; outriggers corresponding in size to the length of 
the canoes. These two canoes were painted blue, which did not add 
to their appearance. 
Any departure from the original method of making detracts from 
the beauty of the canoes. Here, as at other islands visited, less atten- 
tion is now paid to canoe-making than formerly. At one time the 
wood for every part was carefully selected, but little effort is now 
made to keep up to the old standard. In the place of neatly finished 
outriggers seized together with coir sennit, we find many of them 
poorly made and fastened with nails and pieces of wire. The large 
sailing canoe has been supplanted by sloop-rigged boats. 
HIKUERU ATOLL. 
On the morning of the 25th the vessel left Makemo and in the after- 
noon of the 26th lay to off Hikueru Atoll. This atoll lies 400 miles to 
the eastward of Tahitiand has a lagoon 10 miles in diameter. There is 
no passage leading into it, and canoes and other small craft are hauled 
across the rim from the outside’ beach. Canoes can be taken across 
without much trouble, but many of the large sailboats have to be 
transported on temporary ways. The distance is less than a quarter 
of a mile, with a good road all the way. The most difficult part is 
first landing the boats and canoes safely on the outside beach, out of 
the way of the surf. 
The boat which took us in was 82 feet long and 8 feet wide, and 
sharp at both ends, steered with an oar, the same pattern and length 
as used in a whaleboat. This style of boatis chiefly for landing cargo 
from schooners that call at the island during the pearl-fishing season. 
The ordinary ship’s boat would be of little service for this purpose, 
as ina short time she would either be smashed to pieces or have her 
bottom worn through by the ragged coral. Tons of freight are landed 
ina day, and so skillful are the natives in handling boats in a sea on 
a reef that an accident seldom happens to either boat or cargo. 
Launching a boat through the surf is frequently more difficult than 
making a landing. In the former case the boat is almost carried over 
the platform reef to its edge. Those who are to embark take their 
