THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 317 



two arched ties. On these connecting ties or beams was 

 erected a light staging, on which the freight was placed, 

 leaving the long narrow canoes unencumbered for the pad- 

 dlers. A large double canoe will require perhaps thirty or 

 forty men at the paddles, and they are very swift. The men 

 regulate their stroke by a chant or chorus, in which all join, 

 and the effect on the water is very fine. The old war-canoes 

 were beautiful specimens of workmanship. Our carpenter 

 was an excellent workman in his craft, yet he remarked on 

 examining the governor's canoe, that with the advantage he 

 possessed in perfect tools, he would not dare to touch it with 

 the idea of improving the finish ; he might add ornamenta- 

 tion, but not finish. Our canoe was manned by eight pad- 

 dlers, two steersmen, and three to manage the rod; adding 

 the three white men, all told, sixteen men. From the back 

 part of the stage projected a stout bamboo-rod about thirty 

 feet in length, secured in a recess formed in the stage, with 

 two stays, or guys, leading over a short mast in the bow of 

 either canoe. By drawing on these, the pole could be ele- 

 vated, so as to swing the captured fish on to the stage. From 

 the outer end of the rod depended a line of equal length, and 

 attached to this was the white bone hook, and a pair of the 

 wings of the flying-fish. The method of fishing was simply 

 to paddle the canoe with such speed as would cause the 

 lure to skip from wave to wave, in semblance of the motions 

 of the flying-fish, and the bonita would greedily seize it. 

 The instant the fish struck, the two men at the guy would 

 elevate the rod, and the fish was swung to the man on the 

 stage. We were out about three hours, and took about 

 eight hundred pounds of fish. Our entertainers said that 

 the sea was much too smooth, or we should have taken a 

 greater quantity. Much pleased with the novelty of the 

 sport and the completeness of the arrangement, we returned 

 to the ship, each bearing a couple of fine fish for the mess. 



