NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 811 
rim of the atoll is very open here and there are many cuts where the 
sea enters at high water. Many bonito and flying-fish were schooling 
off the cuts and along the fringing reef. On the following morning 
we arrived off the southern end of Elmore or Odia Atoll. Skirting 
along the shore to the westward, we saw no huts or other signs of 
habitation until we approached a narrow cut leading into the lagoon; 
here five people were fishing with dip nets and spears. ‘The fringing 
reef on this side of the atoll is very narrow, as are the beaches. We 
frequently ran into schools of flying-fish. 
Late in the afternoon we arrived off Namu Atoll, approaching it 
from the south side. The beaches are narrow, with considerable rock 
scattered over the ground. The rim of the atollis broken into many 
islets. Near the edge of the reef were numerous fish jumping. Two 
natives were fishing with hand lines from a canoe and several more 
people were fishing on the reef. A mile or so away smoke was seen 
COKE o, 
ee ate % “i 
SRR 
a, Canoe Bailer, Marshall Islands. b, Dip Net, Rongelab. 
rising from among the palm trees, indicating the presence of a village. 
Shortly after we ran into an immense flock of birds feeding on crus- 
tacea or small fish. Bonito in considerable numbers were about, 
evidently feeding on the same material. 
RONGELAB ATOLL. 
In the afternoon of January 17 the ship entered the lagoon of 
Rongelab Atoll and came to anchor off the village on Rongelappelap 
Island, one of the most northern atolls in the Ralick Chain, 380 miles 
from Jaluit. In the immediate vicinity of the village there are no 
seining beaches. About a third of a mile to the eastward there is a 
small, smooth beach, and near the entrance to the pass there is another 
which covers a considerable stretch of ground. At all other places as 
viewed from the ship the shore presents a very rough appearance. 
We observed no reefs or pools such as are found at most atolls. 
In the evening hand lines were put over the ship’s side in 25 fathoms 
of water; character of bottom very rough. Sharks were plentiful, _ 
carrying away most of the hooks and sinkers. Two fish were caught. 
The surface electric heht attracted a few small forms of animal life. 
