790 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
forward, and as the bow and stern alternate in position when working » 
to windward, it necessitates the shifting of the mast each time the 
course is changed. 
It is well known among seafaring men that the South Sea canoe does 
not tack in beating to windward in the same manner as a sail boat— 
that is, first presenting one side to the wind and then the other. With 
the canoe the same side is always to windward. In running before the 
wind great care has to be taken not to jibe the sail. 
There were no sails or masts to be seen. The double canoe is steered 
with two paddles. Those that we saw were 13 feet long, the blades a 
little over 6 feet, made of hard wood, and very heavy. 
At the village a double canoe, larger than the one just described, was 
in process of construction. It was 48 feet long, 27 feet wide on top, 
and 3} feet at the turn of the bilge, and 2% feet deep. That work had 
only recently ceased was indicated by the newly made chips lying 
about. Our appearance off the island had no doubt put a stop to any 
work that might have been going on at the time of our arrival. The 
body of the canoe was nearly completed, and heavy pieces of timber 
for the connecting framework were on the ground ready to be worked 








Steering Paddle for Double Canoe, Kambara. 
into shape. No tools were in sight, but the marks in the wood led us 
to believe that an adze and broad-ax had been used. Ridges of wood 
had been left inside of both of the canoes, representing clamp and bilge 
strakes. No trees were noticed on the island that at all corresponded 
with the size of the canoes. It was not learned where the timber came 
from for building. 
SUVA, VITI LEVU ISLAND. 
In the harbor of Suva a fairly good collection of fishes was obtained, 
mostly taken in seines. Three sizes of seines were used, namely, 15, 
75, and 150 foot. In the afternoon and the evening of our arrival 
hand lines were kept over the side and were carefully tended, but with 
no success. Two wire traps, set close by, captured 2 fish, both of the 
same species. After dark the surface electric light was put over, 
which attracted a number of small fry, and several species were taken 
with a dip net. 
The following day and during the time we lay at Suva hand lines of 
various sizes were employed in different localities with negative 
results. Wire fish-traps and crab nets were set ina number of places, 
