816 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The sailboats built here vary in length from 22 to 35 feet, equally 
divided between the square and sharp stern. A schooner of about 12 
tons, recently launched, lay at anchor in the lagoon. On being asked 
the cost of such a schooner ready for sea, the builder stated that if a 
chief should purchase her the price would be $1,000, but that any other 
person could purchase her for considerably less. Nearly all of the 
chiefs in these islands are wealthy and the other natives correspond- 
ingly poor, hence the two prices. Even the poorest person among 
the natives aspires to have a small schooner. 
The knees and timbers for vessels and boats are cut on an island on 
the western side of the lagoon. The wood is called ‘‘kauoe,” and 
looks like black walnut. With age it becomes very hard, and is said 
to be as durable as oak. The wood used in other parts—such as plank, 
spars, booms, gaffs, etc.—is shipped from New Zealand. 
WOTJE ATOLL. 
Just before dark, January 21, the A/batross entered Rurick Pass, 
Wotje Atoll, and came to anchor in the lagoon in 25 fathoms of water. 
Here the surface light attracted but a small amount of life. Hand-line 
fishing was a failure. The rim of the atoll here is nearly submerged, 
there being but few places where the sea breaks in ordinary weather; 
but the submerged part of the rim could be plainly seen, reflecting a 
pale greenish color along the middle, intermingled with bluish tints at 
the edges, which, combined with an occasional comber, breaking and 
splashing its white foam in streaks over the surface, made a strong 
combination of colors. The main channel could be distinguished by 
its water being the same color as the sea outside. 
The following day we entered the passage on the southern side of 
the atoll, steamed across the lagoon, and anchored off the village. 
The inhabitants number about 200, and seem to have had little com- 
munication with the outside world. The beaches are smooth high up, 
near the margin of the palm trees, but rough a short distance below. 
No seining was done; neither were any fish seen near the shore except 
two sharks about 200 yards from the beach. 
The canoes at this island did not differ noticeably from those at 
Jaluit and Rongelab. Two styles of fish-traps are used—the one 
described at Jaluit and that mentioned at Likieb, the latter being the 
more common. One cylinder trap was 14 feet long. The man who 
owned it was not inclined to part with it at any price. No spears, 
nets, or other fishing apparatus were found in the village. 
In the evening a considerable amount of minute surface life was col- 
lected and 3 specimens of coral-fish. Among the other fishes attracted 
by the light and captured were half-beaks and a species resembling 
young herring. Several natives, returning from a fishing trip, came 
on board with 2 craw-fish, which were purchased and placed in alcohol. 
