NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 771 
of wood were used for floats, and to the foot-line were fastened shells 
for sinkers. The seines had no bags and were hauled without seine 
ropes, in the same manner as a small collecting seine. They are used 
mostly by women and children. 
At Point Venus, 5} miles from Papeete, is a seining-ground where 
a large seine is operated by Gilbert Island fishermen. These people 
settled here a number of years ago as a fishing colony. No descrip- 
tion can be given of the seine or other apparatus, as no visit was made 
to that locality. About 8 miles to the westward of Papeete is a fishing 
village of considerable importance, inhabited by Gilbert Islanders. 
We learned that most of the fish in Papeete market are caught by these 
people. Their homes are scattered along the beach for several miles, 
there being no method displayed in laying out the village. On beaches 
where seines can be hauled houses are built near the water’s edge. 
They are mostly hidden from view by the dense growth of trees, and 
many times we were about to pass on, thinking there were no inhab- 
itants near, when our attention would be attracted by a net or fish trap 
among the trees. On making an investigation we usually found a 
house or two, and more apparatus. The people were kindly disposed, 
and tried in every way to explain the manner in which the fishing 
gear was used, but without much success, as they spoke only their 
native tongue. 
It being Sunday, no fishing was going on and we were unable to see 
any of the apparatus operated. Arranged along the beaches were 
racks on which seines were drying. The seines varied in length from 
60 to 120 feet; 30 to 44 meshes deep; size of mesh, 3 inches; single 
head and foot line; floats on the head-line made of koa, a wood that 
is very light and more durable than cork. The floats were 4 inches 
long by 24 inches in diameter, placed 5 inches apart. The leads on 
the foot-line were 3 inches apart, made of heavy sheet lead and 
wrapped around in Italian style. This is a very good way to lead a 
seine, for should there be too much lead it is easily removed, and on 
the other hand if there be not enough it is easy to put more on. 
We were informed that all the webbing used in making nets is 
imported from San Francisco. The water being exceptionally clear, 
tanned nets are not used. The less conspicuous a net is in the water 
the more fish it will catch. All tropical fish are shy, but those inhab- 
iting coral reefs are unusually so. No gill nets are used. 
Bamboo fish-cars of various sizes, which at first we supposed to be 
fish-traps, were noticed. The largest was 7 feet long and 3 feet in 
diameter across the center, gradually tapering to 4 inches on the ends. 
The length and shape depend on the size of the bamboo from which 
the car is made. Bamboo of the desired sizes is selected and split longi- 
tudinally between the nodes into strips about one-half inch wide, care 
being taken not to separate the ends of the strips from the nodes. The 
