SOME STRANGE FISH 



ing is very long and very narrow, pointed, and curved 

 upwards at either end, and capable of holding five or 

 six men. By an ingenious system of " outrigger " the 

 terrific surf is rendered almost powerless to upset this 

 craft ; for standing out from one side of the boat are two 

 light poles, across the ends of which is lashed a beam 

 similar in shape and length to the boat's keel, so that at a 

 distance, you might think you saw two boats fixed parallel 

 to each other. The outrigger forms a stay to the boat 

 on the side whereon it is fixed, and the other side is 

 equally supported because only a very great strain could 

 possibly weigh up such a contrivance. The paddling is done 

 from the stern, and fishing begins as soon as the little 

 vessel is clear of the reefs ; and in a very few hours she has 

 as many fish as she can hold. The catch is taken ashore 

 alive in pots and skin buckets, and disposed of at the 

 public market, many of the islanders consuming it not 

 only uncooked but still living. 



The Australian fisheries have developed remarkably 

 during the last half-century, apart even from the whaling 

 and pearl-fishing, huge fleets being engaged in turtle-, 

 dugong- and oyster-fishing ; more than a hundred species 

 of edible fish are trawled for off the coast of New South 

 Wales alone. The few remaining coast aborigines live on 

 the coarse-fleshed sting-rays which are thrown up living 

 and dead by the tide ; and on such other fish as they can 

 catch on the barbed bone points of their spears. The 

 Kanakas of the Melanesian Islands are skilful in the 

 building of canoes, but, as with the Fuegians, the women 

 do the fishing, while the men eat each other. 



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