NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 823 
PONAPT ISLAND. 
A run of 150 miles brought us off Pingelap Island, where we arrived 
early in the afternoon of February 10. We did not land, all photo- 
graphic work being performed from the ship. While lying to, several 
canoes came off well filled with people, among whom were the king 
and a white man. Pingelap is a small island about 5 miles long by 
less than 3 wide, yet it supports nearly 1,000 people. All the canoes 
that came off were small, estimated length varying from 14 to 16 feet— 
the same type as the Arhno canoe. While lying to, several large 
schools of flying-fish passed us; barracuda were also plentiful, and on 
the passage to Ponapi both species were frequently around the ship. 
We dropped anchor in Kiti Harbor, Ponapi Island, the following 
afternoon, February 11. The inhabitants do not seem to be much 
given to fishing; at least it is not so extensively carried on as at Kusaie. 
Here the fishing is performed chiefly by the men. Both the outer and 
inner harbors are surrounded by reefs. A mountain stream empties 
at the head of the inner harbor. 
Hanging up in a shed with canoes were reef and hand nets, the same 
as used at Kusaie. ‘The spears were fish-hooks straightened and lashed 
to poles. No other kind of fishing gear was observed. At low tide 
in the inner and outer harbor reefs and spits are exposed, just such 
places where rock pools are numerous and fish abound. 
There are no seining beaches in the harbor, all the reefs and spits 
being too rough for seine work. About half a mile from the mouth 
of the stream a 50 and a 15 foot seine were dragged. Like most 
streams in the Tropics, it was filled with snags, there being few places 
free of them. In eight trials 6 mallet, a number of half-beaks, and 
considerable small fry were taken. In and about the mouth of the 
stream the bottom is largely composed of stones and broken coral. 
Several trials were attempted here, and each time a number of fish 
were in the seine, but the seine would ‘‘ foul” with rock, snag, or 
coral, and before it could be cleared the fish escaped. | 
A party rowed up the river about 2 miles and tried for fish with 
rod and fly and bait. Nothing was caught; not even a bite was felt, 
although an abundance of fish was seen. ‘To obtain a collection rep- 
resenting even one-half the fresh and salt water species to be found 
here would require many days of patient fishing. 
On one of the reefs in the harbor, about a mile from the village and 
not far from our anchorage, a collection of star-fishes, shells, annelids, 
and crabs was made. 
There is not the marked difference in the size of the Ponapi canoe 
as noticed at many other islands. A difference of 2 feet is the maxi- 
mum; average length, 263 feet; width, 134 inches; depth, 174 inches. 
Outrigger float, 20 feet long; stanchions connecting float to outrigger 
