COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 399 
are used. These are made of No. 12 linen twine and are worth about 
$100 each. Most of the nets, however, are of about one-half the above 
dimensions and are worth about $50 each. 
On Hawaii, when the school of akule (gogeler) arrives a man is 
posted on the high bank with two flags, one in each hand. When he 
waves the one in the right hand the canoes on that side move to the 
right; when he waves the left-hand flag those on that side move to 
the left, and when he drops both it means to let the net go. From 
his elevated position he can observe the movements of the school, which 
owing to the color of the fish looks like a red bank, better than those 
in the canoes. 
Nearly all the seine and gill nets are barked before being used, as 
otherwise they would soon rot out. The bark of the koa tree is used 
for this purpose. It is first pounded up somewhat fine and then put 
in a tank with water, where it is allowed to remain for two weeks. 
The water is then drawn off into a water-tight box and the nets are 
slowly drawn through this water. 
In drying the nets a method introduced from China is employed at 
several places, particularly Hilo. Throughout an open field a number 
of slender poles about 12 feet in height are planted. At the top of 
each is nailed a crosspiece of wood about 3 feet in length, which is 
supported by two short pieces running from the pole to the outer ends 
of the crosspiece. Large hooks are attached to the ends of the cross 
sections. A short piece of rope is slung over each of these hooks, and 
when the net is ready for drying one end of this rope is attached to 
the lines of the net and it is pulled up sufficiently to clear the ground, 
and held in this position by tying the free end of the rope to the pole 
close to the ground. This also facilitates the repairing of nets. 
BAG NETS. 
Bag nets are used on all of the islands, being the form of apparatus 
in most general use. They are of all sizes and styles, according to 
the particular species the fishermen are in search of and the condition 
of the fishing-ground. 
Several of the more important private fisheries are worked by means 
of bag nets. At Kahului, Maui, a net 180 fathoms long, with ropes 
250 fathoms long attached on each side, is used. The wings of this 
net have a mesh of 4 inches, while in the center the mesh is 1 inch. 
It is operated from the shore by means of two windlasses. The net 
is laced in the center, and when drawn near the shore a bag 15 feet 
wide, 18 feet high, 35 feet long, with meshes from 1 inch to 14 inches, 
is attached to the center of the net, after which the net is unlaced and 
the ends drawn back to the sides of the bag. This is done by divers. 
If there is only a small haul the bag is drawn directly up on the beach. 
If many fish have been taken the bag is placed in a canoe and the rope 
at the bottom of the bag unlaced and the fish allowed to fall into the 
boat. This net is made of cotton twine. 
