NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 815 
on the bottom, it would not remain upright on the water without the 
outrigger. The float is the same as on the large canoes. The out- 
rigger frame is a rude affair, made of two strips of joist nailed together. 
The canoe itself is made of logs in the usual manner and fastened with 
cocoanut fiber. Forward and aft of the outrigger frame is a half-deck. 
This leaves an opening on either side of the crosspieces to stand in 
when paddling. A canoe of this kind was just finished and ready to 
put in the water, with the following dimensions: Length, 15 feet; 
width, 17 inches; 1 foot wide 2 feet from the bow and the same width 
2 feet 7 inches from the stern; waterways all the way round, 4 inches 
wide, except where joining to the solid part of the bow and stern— 
at these points it narrows to 2 inches; outrigger float, 13 feet long, 
94 inches wide, and 8 inches thick; distance from the side, 74 feet; the 
outrigger frame consists of two pieces of joist. 
A canoe was being constructed out of boards on the plan of a dory, 
with an outrigger like the one just described. The old method of 
canoe-building is being abandoned gradually, and in a few years the 
large sailing canoe, and also the small ones, will have disappeared. 
At this late day no very long passages are made in canoes; formerly, 
before the introduction of sailboats and schooners, canoes of large 
size were common. Inquiring into the merits of the sailing canoe as 
compared to the average sailboat of equal length, we were informed 
that a canoe in windward work, when the sea is choppy, is not equal 
to a fast-sailing boat, but with a beam wind and running before it she 
is superior. In beating to windward the canoe is somewhat handi- 
capped by the large amount of water she takes in, and in a rough sea 
almost constant bailing is required. While the canoe possesses fairly 
good seagoing qualities, white people living in the islands claim that 
it falls short of the average boat for all-round work. Formerly many 
canoes were lost in making passages to distant islands. 
A Portuguese from a whaling ship landed on this island about forty 
years ago and shortly after married a native woman and became a 
trader. With him was the beginning of a change in affairs pertaining 
to the island. We were informed by him that a number of years ago 
Capt. Charles Foster, of Oakland, Cal., built a 40-ton schooner here, 
and among those whom he had to help him were the two sons of the 
Portuguese trader. From Captain Foster they learned much about 
shipbuilding, and soon began building boats and schooners for them- 
selves. That they have progressed wonderfully is clearly shown in 
the schooners and boats launched from their yard, which compare 
favorably with many of those built in California and brought here to 
sell. 
The shipyard is on the beach at the village. It is sheltered from the 
rain and heat by a high roof. Tools of all kinds, such as used in a 
shipyard, were lying about, and some of the most improved make. 
