NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 783 
other islands, a few fish were captured. Several species of crabs were 
taken with a dip net. It was impossible to haul a seine on any part of 
the reef visited. Spear, trap, and dip net are more useful and are 
used by the natives. 
In front of the town, and for a number of miles on either side, is a 
long, narrow, sandy beach; this suddenly merges into the reef plat- 
form, and it is only when the tide is high that a seine can be hauled 
on any partof it. One afternoon was spent in fishing with seine along 
this beach. The principal part of the catch was mullet, and flounders 
were also taken in a number of hauls. 
Hand-lines with various kinds of bait were over the side of the ship 
most of the time, but not even a bite was felt. A crab net was set and 
repeatedly hauled without results. 
Four wire traps were set on the reef, two near a native trap, and 
two on the edge of the reef, in about 6 feet of water. They were down 
24 hours and were visited three times, but nothing was taken in them. 
A trammel net was set in 12 fathoms of water, remaining down 24 
hours; no fish were found in it. 
The natives of Nukualofa do not apply themselves very industriously 
to fishing, but are more given to raising fruit for the Australian and 
New Zealand markets, there being a line of steamers plying between 
those countries and Tonga. Since this line was established the natives 
have given less attention to fishing than formerly. The making of 
fine canoes and fishing apparatus is looked upon as of minor importance 
as compared to labor which will bring them a few dollars. 
So far as we could learn, no fishermen are regularly engaged, except 
when the steamer arrives; then men and boys repair to the reef and 
capture enough for her wants; at other times the women and children 
do most of the fishing, supplying the immediate wants of the town. 
Like most places in the South Seas, fishing here is to a considerable 
extent carried on in the night. Spearing is the principal method of 
capture, though hook-and-line fishing is at times performed. We saw 
none of the latter and very little of the former method. One evening 
a few men and boys gathered on the reef, the men with spears and the 
boys carrying torches. When the tide is high a canoe to hold the fish 
is generally towed along the beach by one or two boys. When the 
reef is bare, baskets made of palm leaves are carried on the backs 
of men, women, and boys to deposit the catch in. At high water fish- 
ermen confine themselves close to the beach, where mullet generally 
school in considerable numbers. At other times they travel over the 
reef, searching in all the pools for fish, jumping from one to another 
in bare feet over the sharp coral, ever on the alert for the slightest 
movement inthe water. The light of the torches thrown suddenly into 
the pools or little channels will startle fish that may be at or near the 
surface, causing them to dart into holes or try to make their escape 
