292 American Fisheries Society 



water. To encourage its growth in the ponds they are 

 drained and refilled as fast as the growth of the algae 

 permits. 



After remaining in the small ponds for about eight 

 weeks, the young fish are introduced into one of the larger 

 ponds. Under the new conditions they grow very rapidly. 

 As soon as the CEdigonium becomes scarce the fish are ad- 

 mitted to another pond, the former is then drained and the 

 rapid growth of a new crop of algae encouraged. When the 

 fish are about five months old, the owner may begin harvest- 

 ing his crop, selling to keep his ponds from becoming over- 

 stocked, or according to the demands of the market or his 

 own financial needs. During the Lenten season the fish are 

 in greatest demand and bring the best prices. At this time 

 the balance of the stock is usually sold, preparatory to re- 

 stocking. 



Several methods of capturing the fish are in vogue; the 

 water may be drained off and the deeper pools fished, or, 

 the water level having been lowered and the tide 

 outside arisen, the gates may be opened, setting up a 

 strong current into the ponds, when the fish swimming 

 against the current enter the small control pond from which 

 they are easily taken. To satisfy a certain demand from 

 those who wish to eat the entire fish, eight to twelve hours 

 before making the catch the fishermen wade about in the 

 ponds, beating the water to frighten the fish as much as 

 possible. This causes them to cease eating until after the 

 catch for market has been made, the stomach then being 

 comparatively empty. 



About nine-tenths of the people of the islands use fish 

 as their principal flesh diet. Practically all fishes over an 

 inch in length, and not considered actually poisonous, are 

 eaten. Whenever there are storms or typhoons, many of the 

 salt water fishermen are unable to operate their nets, fish 

 their traps or send the catch to market; at such times the 

 market is almost entirely dependent upon the catch from the 

 ponds. 



