764 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
cutter was dropped off a short distance from the shoal and a sounding 
made in 17 fathoms of water. We watched through water-glasses the 
diver’s movements from the time of sinking below the surface until 
rising to the top again, two minutes and forty seconds. One shell was 
brought up. Long before reaching bottom we thought it would. be 
impossible for him to accomplish the feat, but in this we were mis- 
taken. Reaching his destination, he began picking over pieces of coral, 
brushing aside stones, broken shells, etc., in the same manner as if he 
were at work ina garden. He investigated the bottom some 60 or 70 
feet from the initial point of landing. When ready to ascend he stood 
erect and came up as if being pulled with considerable force, shooting 
out of water halfway to the waist. He seemed to suffer no unusual 
discomfort, and in a short time was ready to go down again. There 
is a record of a dive of 23 fathoms. The length of time the diver 
remained down we did not learn. 
Canoes are very little used in the pearl fishery, being of little serv- 
ice as compared to the boats. The boats are cutter-rigged, easy to 
handle, and capable of carrying considerable cargo. They are mostly 
built on the same design, there being hardly any appreciable variation. 
All those examined were keel, straight stem, square stern, and carvel- 
built, with a cock-pit aft. They have accommodations in the cabin for 
about four people and in the hold can carry a considerable quantity of 
freight. Between the trunk of the house and the rail is a walking 
space of 14 inches. Measurements were taken of two of these cutters. 
One was 16 feet long, 64 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. The other was 
23 feet in length, 8$ feet in width, and 2% feet in depth. Other and 
larger cutters were seen at anchor some distance from the beach. 
Each cutter carries a small tender. There are 350 boats engaged in 
the fishery. The cost of an average cutter, about 22 feet over all, 
rigged and ready for use, is $350. They are built in Papeete and 
owned largely by the companies operating the fishery. 
We saw but few canoes. Those examined were superior to many 
observed at other islands. The top and bottom are made of separate 
pieces, the upper part of soft wood and the lower of hard wood, and 
fastened together with line made of cocoanut fiber, the seams having 
strips of pandanus leaves between them. In length the canoes varied 
a foot or two, in width a few inches. One was 9 feet long, 10 inches 
wide, and 16 inches deep; outrigger float 7 feet long, 4 feet from the 
side, and 54 feet between the stanchions connecting the crosspieces to 
the float. Another canoe was 11 feet long, 11 inches wide, and 18 
inches deep, built the same as the first. They were round on the bot- 
tom and straight fore and aft. There were no paddles lying about, 
neither were there any sails. In the lagoon there must have been 
many types of canoes, but as the people owning them were so widely 
scattered we saw only a few. 
