NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 197 
THE GILBERT ISLANDS. 
While coasting off the south shore of Arorai Island, we saw a large 
gathering of people on the edge of the reef fishing with hook and line. 
The lines were attached to long poles. Stormy weather prevailed and 
the sea was breaking against and sweeping in over the reef. We were 
of the opinion that the condition of the weather and roughness of the 
sea were the means of bringing in fish that do not approach the reef 
in milder weather. We learned that this was the case among many 
of the islands. The ship lay too far offshore to see the size of fish 
which were caught. 
In the course of half an hour a canoe was launched through the 
breakers and came off to the ship; shortly after another one came 
off. Each made several attempts before succeeding in getting clear 
of the reef. 
The canoes were entirely different from any of those we had seen. 
We had suddenly left the region of the dugout and entered that of 
the built-up canoe. In shape they somewhat resembled the sea-otter 
boat of Alaska. Their estimated length was 22 feet; width, 4 feet; 
depth, 20 inches; material cocoanut wood. Each had 7 sets of timbers; 
keel about 5 inches wide, planking 4 to 6 inches wide without butts, 
that is, each plank running unbroken from stem to stern and fastened 
to the stem and stern posts with cocoanut fiber thread. The edges of 
the planks were fastened together in the same manner. 
Instead of the seams being covered with bamboo strips, they had a 
thick coating of gum on both sides. The stem and stern post were 
neatly scarfed to the keel. No metal could be observed in their con- 
struction. A few days later we had a better opportunity of examining 
canoes of similar build. 
APAMAMA ISLAND. 
On January 1 we arrived off the northeastern side of Apamama. 
The shore on this side is somewhat protected by a barrier reef. At 
the time a heavy surf was breaking over it. A number of small bays 
and indentations fringe the upper beach, a few almost cutting through 
the rim of the atoll into the lagoon. Ona small isthmus formed by 
one of these cuts is a village; in front of it is a sea wall built of blocks 
of coral rock. On the lagoon side of the island, about a third of a 
mile from where we landed, is another village. There were only old 
people and children at home, the rest of the inhabitants having gone 
on a visit to a distant island in the lagoon. Each house seemed to 
have a water privilege, and all along the beach were net-drying racks. 
The canoes of Apamama are built in the manner of a boat. A frame 
is gotten out and put together in the usual way. The timbers are 
round, consisting of heavy withes bent to the desired shape. 
