80 THE STORY OF LIFE IN THE SEAS. 



beginning of the third quarter of the moon in 

 the months of October and November. As the 

 worm is regarded as a very great delicacy by the 

 natives, the day of its appearance is looked upon 

 as one of the most important red-letter days of 

 the year. Weeks before the worms are expected 

 the advent of the Palolo is discussed, stories 

 are told of the fisheries of bye-gone years, anec- 

 dotes of the last year are remembered and re- 

 hearsed, and the whole population is prepared 

 for the great event as for a feast. 



When the grand day arrives the boats are 

 decorated, the girls put on all their finery, and 

 everyone who can find a seat in a boat goes off 

 to the fishery amid a merry chorus of song and 

 laughter. It must, indeed, be a strange sight to 

 see the flotilla of canoes with their eagerly ex- 

 pectant and gaily -bedecked crews, waiting in the 

 dim light of the half moon for the day to break 

 and the exciting fishery to begin. As soon as it 

 is light enough to see into the water, a few 

 writhing Worms may be distinguished at the 

 surface, which increase in number with such ex- 

 traordinary rapidity, that in a little while it is 

 impossible to see anything below three or four 

 inches owing to the multitude of Palolos. As 

 quickly as possible the fishery proceeds, every 

 man, woman, and child gathering the harvest of 

 Worms during the precious moments of the sun- 

 rise. When at last the suii rises well above the 

 horizon the Worm disappears again, and the 

 boats hasten to the shores with their booty. 



This remarkable swarming process of the 

 Palolo, occurring as it does, only once or twice 



