APPENDIX. 



I TAKE mucli pleasure in finally being able to present the 

 following account of the fish colle(5led in the waters about Marcus 

 in the form of an appendix to the monograph^ of that island. The 

 impossibility of securing anything like a complete colledtion of the 

 fish about the island in the brief time at our disposal can well be' 

 understood. However, the following list, accompanied by the 

 description of eight new species, will serve as an index to the 

 fauna to be met with in that region. 



The greater part of the colled;ing was done at night with a 

 mosquito net seine and a small hand net. For the want of better 

 equipment long-necked bottles were baited and used as traps. In 

 addition to the night work some time was devoted to fishing with a 

 hook and line, as well as to poisoning and the discharging of a few 

 blasts in the deep water (four to six fathoms) outside the reef. All 

 of the methods used were accompanied by more or less satisfacflory 

 results. A Japanese was employed for two or three days who ex- 

 hibited considerable skill in spearing certain of the larger speci- 

 mens secured. With a pair of close fitting goggles firmly fastened 

 over the eyes he would dive for great distances,. thus approaching 

 his intended vi(5tim without creating the disturbance usually made 

 by wading or swimming through the water ; he was thus enabled 

 at the same time to watch the movements of the fish. When with- 

 in spearing range this astute fisherman would stealthily raise him- 

 self and hurl a slender barbed spear with great precision. 



Fish was a daily article of food and furnished a welcome addi- 

 tion to the Japanese residents' meager fare. The suppl}^ seemed 

 never failing, and certain species were always to be had in abund- 

 ance. Many of their native dishes, though crudely prepared, were 

 quite palatable. 



I was informed bj' Captain Rosehill that at the time of his first 

 visit to the island sharks were exceedingly abundant and trouble- 

 some. I learned from one of the settlers that small Japanese fishing 



6 See Pisces, page 117. 



Occasional Papers B. P. B. M., Vol. II., No. i. — 9. (125) 



