726 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



each other at this spot and can be brought together when wanted. A string- is tied 

 at the crossing place of the sticks and the net is manipulated by this string. When 

 these sticks are crossed they spread the net open in the form of a shaliow bag. The 

 fisherman first catches an uhu of the variety to be fished for by means of hook and 

 line. He secures this to a line run through its gills and mouth and then lowers it at 

 a spot where the uhu congregate and gently works it back and forth. The uhu in 

 the vicinity are attracted and angered l>y the strange antics of the decoy and swim 

 up close to observe it. The net is gently lowered to a little distance from the decoy, 

 and the latter is then slowly drawn into the net. The others rush into the net after 

 the decoy, when, by a peculiar twitch and pull on the string, the fisherman causes 

 the sticks to swing around and lie parallel, closing the mouth of the bag, which is 

 then drawn to the surface and emptied into the canoe. The operation is then repeated 

 with a fresh decoy. 



There are two varieties of uhu, one of a reddish color and the other green. The 

 red ^'ariety is preferred by the natives, who eat it raw. This same net is used for 

 other species of rock-fish, the decoy being of the species sought. 



A similar bag net (upena opule), about a fathom in length and with an oval 

 mouth about 2 or 3 feet in width, is used for catching the opule, a decoy opule 

 being used in the same manner as described above. 



Another kind of decoy fishing is with the lau melomelo, a billet of kauwila wood, 

 one of the hardest varieties in the islands. This decoy is something like a club, being 

 rounded at the ends, s\'ith one end smaller than the other, and a little ringed knob on 

 the smaller end to tie a string to. It varies in length from 13 inches to 3 feet. After 

 the proper incantations have been performed over it by a sorcerer, or kahuna, it is 

 charred slightly over a regulation fire. Having once attained its power great care 

 must be taken hy the fisherman that it does not lose it. If a woman should step over 

 it or enter the canoe in which it is placed the magic influence would be lost. Further 

 preparation is made by baking equal quantities of kukui nut (candle nut) and cocoa- 

 nut meat, pounding it up and tying it in a wrapping of cocoanut fiber (the sheath 

 around the stems of the cocoanut leaf). On arrival at the fishing-ground the stick is 

 covered with the oily juice of this preparation and allowed to hang suspended a few 

 feet from the bottom. The scent of the baked nut meat, in the opinion of the fisher- 

 men, has an attraction for certain kinds of fish, which soon surround the stick and 

 smell or nibble at it. In a short time a small bag net is dropped overboard, and 

 maneuvered until its mouth is toward the suspended stick. The latter is then moved 

 slowly into the bag, the fish following it. Two of the natives dive and, approaching 

 the net gently, quickly close its mouth and give the signal to those in the canoe to 

 haul it up. Should the fishing prove poor it is ascribed to the imperfect perform- 

 ance of the incantations. This manner of fishing was formerly quite common on the 

 west coast of Hawaii, but is not often practiced now. 



One of the common species around the island of Oahu is the malolo, or flying- 

 fish, although but few of these are found around the other islands. There are two 

 species, the large malolo and the small puhiki'i. A large bag net with a flaring 

 mouth and very fine mesh is employed in this fishery, being carried to the fishing 

 ground piled on a large single canoe, or sometimes a double one. The start is always 



