738 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



make a spring for it. As soon as the fish is hooked the line is swung up over the 

 fisherman's head so as to make ahuost a complete revolution. It is very necessary 

 that the line should be kept taut, as. owing to the fact that the hook has but a slight 

 barb, the fish would shake itself loose should the line slacken in the least. As the 

 hooked fish is describing this revolution the fisherman swings around to meet it as it 

 nears him, bowing out his right arm. When the fish comes between his arm and side 

 he closes them up and the fish is caught, vinhooked, and dropped into the boat. If he 

 perceives that the fish is coming toward him in such a way that it will be difficult to 

 hold it in the manner described, he moves out of range and allows it to make another 

 revolution, catching it on its return. The fishing must be done in from ten to fifteen 

 minutes' time, as the school soon gets frightened and disappears. 



In line-fishing for other species besides the aku, opae, earthworms, and live fry 

 of fish are used us bait. Hooks of varying sizes and kinds, made from ivory, tortoise 

 shell, and human and animal bones, are used. Frequently the fisherman, after baiting 

 his hook from a handful of opae. bruises the remainder, and, wrapping it up in 

 cocoanut fiber, ties it with a pebble on the line close to the hooks. The bruised 

 matter spreads through the water when the line is dropped and serves to attract the 

 fish to the vicinitv of the hook. 



Fig. -23:1.— Tortoise-shell hook. Fig. 2M.— Ivory hook. 



For bait in uhu fishing the gall bladder of the hee is dried and then cooked until 

 it becomes a jelly, which is placed in a small calabash or l)owl and tied to the hook 

 as bait. A pole is used in this method of fishing. 



In fishing for aama (crabs) from clifl's or high rocks, a long bamboo pole with 

 line, to the end of which is tied an opihi, is used. The fisherman dangles this bait 

 in front of the crab as it looks out from its home in the rocks, and the animal at once 

 seizes it. By a (juick jerk the line is swung up and the aama caught. 



In the deep-sea fishing hooks and lines are used without rods, except for the 

 aku. Fishing is carried on here to depths as great as 60() feet. The older native 

 fishermen are familiar with all the reefs and rocky elevations for miles in everv 

 direction from the shore, and know well the difl'erent species of fishes to be found in 

 each place. Frequently tliey go entirely out of sight of tiie lowlands and mountain 

 slopes and take their bearings, for the purpose of determining from the relative 

 positions of the diflerent mountain peaks the reef or rock which is the habitat of the 

 fish they are seeking. 



On Hawaii an ingenious method of fishing for ulua is practiced. A long pole is 

 planted on the shore in such a position as to lean decidedly toward the water. On 

 the top of this a bell is arranged so that it will swing clear of the top of the pole. 



