(ie REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
stick having been divided into as many strips or sections as required, 
an opening between them is made and a wooden hoop, about 4 inches 
in diameter, is inserted, turned at right angles, and gradually forced 
into one end. This causes the openings to spread. The first hoop now 
being in position, a larger one is put in 1 foot from the first. This 
admits the large middle hoops, which are placed 7 inches each side of 
the center. The strips are now stretched apart to their fullest capac- 
ity, with a space of 3 inches between them. To prevent small fish from 
making their escape the openings are reduced one-half by inserting 
other strips made of the same material, the ends held in place by a 
serving of cocoanut fiber, and fastened to the hoops with the same 
material. In the top of the car is a door 15 inches square, and on 
each side of it, lengthwise of the car, is a piece of koa wood, 2 feet 
long and 3 inches in diameter, serving as a float and keeping the door 
of the car always at the surface. The cars are light and durable; they 
are made for towing, and both ends having the same shape they offer 
little resistance to the water. 





Bamboo Fish-car, Papeete. 
Live-cars are very necessary in these waters, for fish deteriorate 
quickly and will keep but a few hours at most. Those caught in the 
afternoon, unless placed in a car, are not fit for market the following 
morning. When a distant fishing-ground is visited a car is taken into 
the canoe, and if fish are caught it is towed back. Cars are always 
kept ready for use; when containing fish they are anchored in some 
sheltered place where the water is smooth. 
Trap fishing is followed by these people to a considerable extent. 
We saw several traps, all of the same type and size, 24 feet long; one 
end 2 feet wide by 1 foot deep, the other 2 feet wide and 18 inches 
deep; straight on the sides and ends, oval on top and flat on the 
bottom. They are made of withes and seized together with cocoanut- 
fiber twine, forming a network of meshes 13 inches square. The top 
extends out over the front end 3 inches; this probably is purely orna- 
mental. The funnel or lead is 19 inches long and 6 inches square at the 
opening. Just inside the mouth it is oval in shape, gradually tapering 
toa point. The last 6 inches on the bottom side of the funnel is open; 
the extreme end is closed. This forces the fish to find their way into 
