NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 803 
THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. 
We arrived off the southeast coast of Jaluit Island January 9. This 
part of the island is low, with but a scant growth of cocoanut palms; 
pandanus trees and a thick growth of underbrush reach as far as the 
beach. The ship entered the lagoon through the southeast pass and 
anchored off Jaluit, situated on Jaluit Atoll. 
All the beaches on this part of the atoll are very rough and make 
off with a gradual descent. Seines over 15 or 20 feet in length can 
not be hauled on them. In front of the village is an accumulation of 
sand, but in most places north and south, immediately below high-water 
mark, the shore is covered with sharp coral and coral slabs. The reef 
is about 600 feet wide. Outside the lagoon, opposite the village and 
for a couple of miles south, the reef is narrower. Above the reef the 
beach is high, composed of a banked-up mass of broken coral rock 
thrown up by the sea. Lower down, some 30 feet from the line of 
Hand Net, Jaluit. 
A 
ATTEN 
| 
String of Cocoanut Leaves used with Hand Net. 
NG 
NA 
vegetation, the reef platform commences and makes off quite level. 
This reef is the principal fishing-ground in the vicinity of the village. 
Most of the fish consumed by these people are taken on reefs situated 
some 8 miles north of the pass. We were informed that there is ¢ 
prolific ground at a small islet in the lagoon 4$ miles from the village. 
During our stay here the people went on no fishing excursions. 
Hand lines from over the ship’s side took 7 fish in number, 5 species. 
On a submerged reef near the ship the wire fish-traps caught 5 fish, 
3 species. The crab net and hand lines had no success. Fish were 
plentiful about the ship, but could not be induced to take the hook. 
A trammel net set 24 hours in 12 fathoms of water had in it 2 sharks 
and a small coral-fish. One end of the net caught on the bottom and 
was badly torn. 
Several trials were made with a collecting seine on a beach adjacent 
to the village; altogether a half bushel of small fry was taken. Ina 
pool on the reef about a mile farther south 19 species were captured 
by barricading the pool. No attempt was made to haul the seine. 
