Fish-Poisoning in the Hawaiian Islands Zoe 
taro when applied, and an unidentified beach vine mentioned by 
Mrs. Churchill'*, whose account is detailed and interesting. Her 
description of the plant suggests [pomea pes-caprae or I. terebre- 
thum, but the bitter taste described is lacking in the Hawaiian 
Tpomea. It is possible that the plant was Derris uliginosa Benth, 
which Seemann’ reports as used for poisoning fish in Fiji, and 
which approximately agrees with Mrs. Churchill’s description. ‘The 
Stair? and Turner'*—do not men- 
well-known writers on Samoa 
tion fishing by poison. 
The fish poison most used in Polynesia in ancient times was 
from Barringtonia speciosa, which was plentiful in the South, but 
did not grow in the Hawaiian Islands. According to Williams}? 
it was used by the Polynesians from Tahiti to Tonga, and other 
writers report its use in Fijit®, Guam'®, and the Solomon Islands?°. 
When in abundance its preparation was probably quicker than the 
poisons used by the Hawaiians, a fact which may explain the 
southern preference for the Barringtonia. Tephrosia piscatoria is 
reported by Gray** as occurring also in the Society group, Samoa, 
Tonga, and Fiji, and it was used in the Society Islands®? and 
Samoa**. Wikstroemia foctida was also found in the Society and 
Marquesas groups, Samoa, and Fiji**, and was used in the Society 
group mixed with Barringtonia® seeds. Seemann notes that neither 
-® Churchill, Mrs. Llewella, Samoa ’Uma, p. 122, London and New York, 
Ta oa 
“Seeman, Berthold, Viti, p. 3390, Cambridge, 1862. 
> Stair, J. B., Old Samoa, Tondon, 1897. 
* Turner, George, Samoa a hundred years ago, London, 1884; Nine- 
teen years in Polynesia, London, 1861. 
“Williams, John, Missionary enterprises, p. 501, London, 1838. See also 
Ellis, William, Polynesian researches, vol. 1, p. 140, London, 1853; Christ- 
ian, F. W., Eastern Pacific lands, p. 65, London, roto. 
* Seeman, Berthold, Viti, p. 330, Cambridge, 1862. 
” Safford, W. E., Useful plants of Guam: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb., vol. 
9, pp. 8t-&2. 
” Guppy, H. B., The Solomon Islands, p. 158, London, 1887. 
™ Gray, Asa., U. S. Exploring Expedition, vol. 15, Botany, p. 407, Phila- 
delphia, 1854. ; 
* Ellis. Op. cit. 
“Brown. Op. cit. 
“Gray, ‘Op. cit. 
*® Seemann, Berthold, Flora Vitiensis, p. 207 (quoting Solander). 
rss] 
