THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 295 



a shark would approach them. In some the marks 

 of the sharks' teeth are numerous and deep, and 

 indicate the effect with which they have been 

 used.* 



The most curious, as well as most serviceable 

 hooks, are made of the inner part of the shell of the 

 pearl-oyster, or other large bivalves, the interior of 

 which is pearly, called mother-of-pearl. These have 

 great care and pains bestowed upon them : the smaller 

 ones are cut almost circular, and made to resemble a 

 worm, thus answering the purpose of bait as well as 

 hook. A much larger kind is that used for the capture 

 of the albacore, bonito, and coryphene. The shank 

 is about six inches in length, and nearly an inch in 

 width, cut out of pearl-shell, in the shape of a small 

 fish, and finely polished. The barb is formed sepa- 

 rately ; it is an inch and a half in length, and js 

 firmly bound in its place by a bandage of fine flax. 

 The line is fastened to this, and braided all along 

 the curve of the hook, and again fastened at the 

 head. Sometimes a number of long bristles are 

 attached to the shell to mimic the appearance of the 

 Flying-fish. 



The line is affixed to the end of a long bamboo 

 rod ; and the anglers, sitting in the stern of a light 

 single canoe, are rowed briskly over the waves. The 

 rod is held so that the hook shall just skim the 

 tops of the billows ; the albacore or bonito, deceived 

 by the resemblance, leaps after the fancied Flying- 

 fish, and finds itself a pvey. Twenty or thirty large 



Kllis. 



