18 
Sea fishermen usually pursue their avocations in the 
day ; they rarely work at night ; but to this rule there are 
exceptions, while in the lagoons fresh-water fishing is con- 
ducted at times both day and night. 
On moonlight nights, when fishing is conducted on the 
inland waters or rivers, the men make use of a piece of 
glass—broken bottle—and metal, thereby making a musical 
tinkle to attract the fish before the hand net is cast. 
Sea fishermen, as I have said, rarely work at night. They 
usually start to fish at daybreak, and return about two or 
three o’clock in the afternoon. They are received on the - 
beach by a large crowd, comprised of purchasers in the person 
of subsequent retailers and cooks : wives to witness the luck, 
children to carry back, as they had brought, the nets and 
fishing-gear and their fathers’ spoil, scoffers to chaff in case 
of capsizing, or of return empty-handed. Canoes frequently 
capsize, having been caught broadside on by.a roller, or at 
times they are turned completely round and then go over; 
the fishermen invariably hold on, right the canoe, bale her 
out, re-embark, and pursue what remains of their journey. 
When bad weather is expected, and they anticipate being 
capsized, the fishing-gear, as also their catch in reed bags, . 
is secured to the cross-thwarts of the boat. 
Sea fishermen act as a barometer, for their movements 
and energy depend somewhat on the weather and con- 
dition of the sea. I have often watched them repair to the 
beach, run out their canoes to the edge of the surf, make a 
few abortive efforts towards departure, shrug their shoulders, 
” meaning, at the weather, their 
mind being at ease as to the morrow, by probably having 
had a good haul a day or two previous, run back their 
canoes, and return “ not ingloriously” to their homes. 
The fishermen, in costume for work, are almost in a state 
with a “not good enoug! 
