NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 14G 
The best place for collecting with a seine was in a small bay near the 
mouth of the entrance to the lagoon, about a half mile from the west- 
ern end of Mohican Island. Here in most parts the water is shallow 
and at low tide the flats are bare. A channel some 300 feet wide fol- 
lows from the head ef the bay along the west side where fish school 
at full tide. The bottom of the channel, however, is strewn with live 
and dead coral and tree branches. 
The shore collection consisted of holothurians, small shells of vari- 
ous species, and a number of small-sized tridacna. A few fishes were 
found under rocks. A trammel net was set near the ship at the sur- 
face; the depth of water, 3 fathoms. On account of the jagged bottom 
it was not deemed advisable to set the net near it. At the end of 34 
hours the net was hauled, taking from it 38 fish, all of one species. 
For fear that sharks would get into the net and destroy it, no trials 
were made during the night. 
A crab net was set from the ship and a large fish taken, weighing 38 
pounds. Its color was green, and in general appearance it resembled 
the fathead of California. It being too large for a specimen, it was 
used for bait. 
Hand-line fishing was more successful than any other method in pro- 
curing a variety of fish, about 80 in number being caught from the ship, 
representing nine species. Hand lines were also used from the boats, 
but nothing was caught. It was quite evident that offal from the ship 
attracted fish. Natives a short distance away were engaged in fishing 
from canoes, but so far as could be observed they caught nothing. It 
was supposed that they were on one of the local fishing-grounds, as 
this particular spot was frequented more than elsewhere. 
Two lobster pots were set, one from the ship and the other a short 
distance away, in water not over 5 fathoms deep. The pot set from 
the ship took a fish 3? feet long belonging to the eel family. The 
bait in the other trap was partially eaten, probably by small fishes. 
Shells of crayfish were noticed on the beach in several places. This 
species is taken chiefly with spear at night by the aid of a torch. 
The trials with drag seines were almost a complete failure, owing to 
the roughness of the bottom. In several hauls made with a 25 and 75 
foot net six species were secured, among which were twelve mullet, a 
trigger-fish, a pompano, and a number of small coral-fish. The hauls 
were made in the bay to the westward of Mohican Island. It was 
impossible to make a complete haul with either seine, and it was only 
by lifting the foot line and bag of the seine over the sharp coral patches 
that a partial haul was made. 
Near the place where the trials with drag seines were made were 
three inclosures made of fossil coral piled to the height of 3 feet, 
which at a distance resembled stone walls. The inclosures were rec- 
tangular in shape, 50 feet lone by 25 feet wide, with an opening at the 
