NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 193 
bottom. It is evident that this type of canoe is not used much out- 
side of the harbor; but it is well adapted to carrying light freight from 
point to point along the shore and peddling among the vessels in the 
harbor. There are no particular points of good workmanship in these 
canoes; nails, wire, bits of string, and rope are freely used in fastening 
the outrigger frame together. Some canoes have three and others four 
crosspieces to the outrigger frame; the majority have four. 
At Suvavu several canoes were hauled up on the beach. The largest 
was 30 feet long, 14 inches wide, and 14 inches deep, and straight- 
sided; the bow and stern the same shape—very sharp, straight on the 
bottom fore and aft, turning up quickly at either end. Some were 
made of two pieces; this one was made from one piece. ‘The bow and 
stern were decked over, and in the middle portion was a kind of a 
washboard, 10 feet long and + inches high, which joins to the deck. 
The platform and outrigger frame were attached to the washboard. 
The platform was 8% feet long by 34 feet wide; there was an open 
space on one end for bailing out the canoe. The platform and wash- 
board were made of boards which evidently had been picked up on 
the beach. The outrigger float was 12 feet long, pointed on the ends; 
distance from the side of the canoe 7 feet. Stanchions connecting 
float to the outrigger frame were made of withes 12 inches high and 
four attached to each crosspiece. 
The natives of Suva do not propel their canoes 1n the same manner 
that most natives do. Instead of sitting or squatting down, using the 
paddle at the side, these people stand up and secull. The paddle is 
placed in one of the holes of the framework at the side of the canoe 
and the sculling is performed ina manner directly opposite to the 
way a white man sculls. The Fijian style is to face toward the bow 
with handle of the paddle in front of him, it resting against the after 
side of the crosspiece. The result is the same as in the ordinary way 
of sculling except that there seems to be less power exhibited. The 
paddle is kept perpendicular in the water, which gives it less leverage 
than if held at a slant. Two or three men can scull at the same time. 
We saw no canoes fitted with masts and sails, but were informed 
that small sail canoes are frequently seen in the harbor. 
Natives living in the interior of the island bring their products to 
market down river in what may be termed freight rafts, made of 
bamboo poles lashed together in the shape of a double canoe. Kach 
bunch of poles is about 40 feet long and 4 to 5 feet in diameter in the 
center, tapering at the ends. The bunches are placed side by side a 
few feet apart, and connected by a bridge of the same material; on 
this bridge is a platform housed over in a manner somewhat similar 
to a native hut on shore, top and sides thatched. Under this cover 
are the living quarters. This style of canoe is frequently seen at the 
wharves at Suva. 
