310 THE OCEAN. 



now commenced paddling with all their might, while 

 the headsman produced a great noise by stamping on 

 the hollow box of the canoe. The Flying-fish, which 

 were securely feeding at the outer edge of the reef, 

 terrified by the noise and splashing of the oars, 

 darted out to sea. The torch answered a double pur- 

 pose ; enabling the headsman to discern his prey, and 

 dazzle the eyes of the fishes ; and as they dashed past 

 the canoe, on the surface of the water, he thrust 

 forward his net, and turned it over upon them. 

 Many of the natives have acquired great skill in 

 this exercise, and the quickness of their sight, and 

 the celerity of their movements are astonishing; so 

 that sometimes vast quantities of fish are taken in 

 this manner.' 35 ' 



A large number of fishes are taken with the hook, 

 as by more cultivated nations ; and with all the 

 superiority in art, and all the advantage of metals 

 possessed by Europeans, the native-made hooks are 

 preferred, as far more effective than ours. Many 

 of them are really beautiful productions, and, when 

 we consider their total want of metallic tools, ex- 

 cite our astonishment at the skill and ingenuity of 

 the manufacturers. Our hooks are all made on one 

 pattern, however varying in size; but the forms 

 of theirs are exceedingly various, and made of dif- 

 ferent substances, viz., wood, shell, and bone. " The 

 hooks made with wood are curious; some are ex- 

 ceedingly small, not more than two or three inches 

 in length, but remarkably strong; others are large. 

 The wooden hooks are never barbed, but simply 



* Missionary Enterprises, p. 270. 



