424 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
On most of the islands the nehu is the principal species of bait fish 
taken, while on Hawaii the piha is also used for the same purpose. 
The young of many other species are also taken in these seines and 
used as bait, thus working great havoc to the general fisheries. 
Bait used.—Live opai are very frequently used for bait in the line 
fisheries. 
All species of young fish are used as bait, both alive and dead, 
though the former are preferred. In fishing for mahimahi (dolphin) 
young akule (called agi by the Japanese) are used. 
The natives are very expert in the preparation of palu, or baits, 
from various substances. In making these a small section of the sharp 
end of a cocoanut shell, about 14 inches in height, and a small stick 
of hardwood are used. These two 
objects are used in the same manner 
as a mortar and pestle. 
The following methods of prepar- 
ing such baits with the ink bag of the 
hee, or octopus, as the principal ingre- 
dient were given tome by Mr. Joseph 
Switt Emerson, of Honolulu, who has 
made a thorough study of the native 
customs: Alaala hehe (the ink bag of 
the common octopus) is roasted on 
the coals in the leaves of a ki plant, 
and when well cooked is ground into 
ti paste in the mortar. Usually it is 
flavored with something that is sup- 
posed to attract the fish. Great care 
is taken in compounding the mixture, and every fisherman has his 
favorite recipe. 
Mortar and pestle for mixing palu (or bait). 
The following are some of the more common mixtures used, alaala 
hehe forming the base in every case: 
1. Pound up a little alaalapuloa root in the mortar, throw away the fiber, leaving 
only a few drops of juice in the mortar, then mix in the alaala hehe, 
working it thoroughly with the pestle. 
2. Mash up a red pepper and throw seeds and pulp away, leaving only a few drops 
of juice adhering to the mortar. 
3. Obtain juice from puakala (the prickly plant, the thistle) seeds. Mix in a 
little salt and proceed as in No. 1. 
4. The same with ilima flowers and salt, always using an exact number of flow- 
ers, say 4+ or 8. The fishermen have a superstitious idea that if an odd 
number is used it will have no force. 
5. The same with salt and young noni leaves slightly roasted. 
6. The same with salt and maile kaluhea. 
7. The same with salt and leaves of the paina (poha—cape gooseberry ). 
8. The same with salt and very young leaves of koko. 
9. The same with the bark from the root of pilo (plant growing near the sea shore 
with beautiful flower of foul smell). 
10. The same with salt and the bark from root of naunau. 
11. Mix with kukui (candle nut) nuts, well roasted, the kukui nuts to be well 
ground first and then the alaala hehe to be worked in. 
12. Mix withold hard cocoanut burnt toa crisp, alittle kukui nut rarely doneand salt. 
13. Mix with a little cinnamon. 
