812 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
There was a scarcity of fishing apparatus to be found at Rongelab. 
We saw no wicker-work fish-traps in the village or stone traps about 
the island. Shell fish-hooks, 3 dip nets, and 2 small pieces of net were 
observed, the net the size of those used at Jaluit in connection with 
the string of cocoanut leaves. Probably these were used in the same 
manner. The dip net used by these people is 33 feet long, 13 inches 
wide in the center, and tapering toward the outer end and at the 
handle. The handle is 6 feet long and 2 inches in diameter; size of 
mesh in net 2 inches. The bow is cut from two pieces of wood, flaring 
out at the top edge, forming a thin lip turned outward. The outer 
part of the bow is jointed together and seized; the inner ends are 
fastened to the handle by two neatly-worked grommets. The handle 
extends into the body of the net 14 inches, and across the end of the 
handle is a spreader or brace. 
Three sailing canoes were hauled up on the beach and, like those of 
Jaluit, they were well protected from the weather. They were found 
to be the same build and rig as the Jaluit canoe, excepting that on the 
Showing Build of Rongelab Canoe. 
weather platform there is a bunk house 6 feet long, 43 feet wide, and 
2} feet high; frame made of withes and covered with coarse matting 
of pandanus leaves. This apartment is occupied by women and chil- 
dren, when they are on board; at other times by the men. 
While the small canoes are of the same type as the large, they are 
invariably made of fewer pieces, always five; at least all those we saw 
were made of that number; the bow, stern, and bottom are dug out of 
one piece. Unlike the small canoes of Jaluit, these carry a sail. The 
mast is unshipped each time the sail is taken in, and is handled in the 
manner of a spritsail. Instead of from five to seven shrouds, as the 
large canoes have, there is only one, set up with a toggle at the outer 
end of the outrigger frame. 
LIKIEB ATOLL. 
On the morning of January 18 the Albatross left Rongelab Atoll. 
When off South Pass many flying-fish and bonito were observed. On 
the morning of the 20th we arrived off the southwest end of Likieb 
Atoll, about 135 miles from Rongelab. This atoll belongs to the 
Ratack Chain, which lies to the eastward of the Ralick Chain and 
parallel to each other, both comprised in the Marshall Archipelago. 
