768 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
into the lagoon. The passage, which is about a third of a mile long and 
200 feet wide, runs nearly dry at low water; at high water a small boat 
‘anenter. Some fish were seen in the passage, but none in the lagoon. 
Strewn along the beach of the lagoon were numerous tridacna shells, 
in some places heaped up in long rows; and scattered over the lagoon 
there were counted 116 piles of shells, which at a distance resembled 
haystacks covered with canvas. At one end of the lagoon, about 110 
yards from the beach, was a platform erected upon posts, probably for 
drying the meat of the tridacna. We could see no reason for using the 
platform to dry copra, it being too far from the shore, and besides 
there is only a scant growth of cocoanut trees on the island. 
HEREHERETUE ISLAND. 
On the morning of November 3 the A/batross arrived off this island. 
It is situated 370 miles to the westward of Whitsunday, and is quite 
isolated; the nearest island to it(Anu-Anuraro) is 90 miles to the east- 
ward. <A party was landed 
and a visit made to the vil- 
lage. A wide, fringing reef 
makes off in front of the 
village, on which are pools 
and miniature ponds at low 
water. One fish was cap- 
tured in a dip net. 
Few people were on the 
island; we were informed 
that many were at Hikueru, 
engaged in the pearl fishery. 
We saw no people fishing, 
either on the reef or from 
a canoe. A native who 
could speak a little English 
told us that fishing is done 
only with hook and line and 
with spear. Hooks are made from the pearl shell. A piece of shell 
is formed into the shank of the hook by rubbing it against a stone; the 
bow is made of bone, and sometimes shell, and sharpened to a point 
in the same manner as the shank. Holes are drilled in both, and fast- 
ened together with cocoanut fiber. 
On the lower part of the hook is fastened a bunch of goat’s hair, and 
sometimes narrow strips of pandanus leaves, to attract fish. The body 
of the hook is highly polished, and can be seen in the water for a long 
distance. There being no barb on the hook, a fish can be captured 
only by keeping the line taut, not allowing it to slack in the slightest 
degree. 


Fish-hooks, Hereberetue Island. 
