402 Memoirs Bcrnicc P. Bishop Museum 



This probably holds good also for the organized fishing expeditions to offshore 

 banks and desert islands in which hooks and lines were used. Ordinary fishing, 

 on the other hand, whether with small nets or hook and line, appears to have 

 been a matter of individnal initiative. The conimnnity fishing was ])articipated 

 in by men onlv, while individnal fishing was done by both men and women. 



According to information obtained bv Handv, a strong large-meshed net 

 (upena fi'ifi'i) was used for catching the hammer-head shark, called by the 

 natives ma fake. The cords of this net were dyed with red earth like those of 

 the regular upena. The net was long, one end resting on the bottom while the 

 other was held at the surface of the water bv floats. A number of nets of this 

 sort were set in a good locality and left for the sharks to be caught by the gills. 



According to another informant, sharks were not caught in nets, but 

 were taken by temj^ting them alongside a canoe with meat and passing nooses 

 over the head and tail ; the nooses were drawn taut and the shark was pulled on 

 board and clubbed. It is probable that both methods were in use, being employed 

 in dift'erent localities or for dift'erent species of shark. The flesh of the hammer- 

 head was considered the best for eating, but even small tiger sharks are still 

 caught and eaten by the natives. 



Dordillon gives a term auoa, which he defines as "long braids of leaves 

 to hem in fish." This probably refers to a seine of coconut leaves of the sort 

 still commonly used in the Tuaniotus for fishing in shallow water. This method 

 is not used by the IMarquesan natives at the present time and there are few 

 places in the islands where it could ha\-e been employed. The Tuamotuan seines 

 are simply long ropes of coconut fronds tied together in such a way that the 

 leaflets project in all directions. They are used to surround sections of the reef 

 or lagoon, being gradually drawn in until the fish are confined in a small com- 

 pass. The fish are then speared. Whole villages assist in this sort of fishing, 

 the seines being in some cases nearly half a mile long. 



Octopi are commonly fished for by diving and thrusting a blunt pointed 

 stick into the center of the arms. The animal twines its arms around the stick 

 and is thus easily withdrawn from it hole. The use of octopus hooks in ancient 

 times is doubtful, but according to one informant octopi were formerly caught 

 with three hooks lashed back to back a short distance above which was attached 

 a white stone. This grapnel was let down immediately above the octopus which 

 was irritated by the stone and began to reach for it. As soon as one of the hooks 

 had taken hold, the animal was drawn up with a (|uick jerk. 



At least one form of fish trap is said to have been used in ancient times, 

 but no description of it was obtained. 



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