COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 743 



The use of human flesh as bait was in great vogue among the Hawaiian chiefs. 

 It was cheaper than pig, was equally acceptable to the shark, and gave the chief an 

 opportunity to kill anyone whom he disliked. The victim was cut up and left in a 

 receptacle to decompose for two or three days. Kamehameha I was a great shark 

 hunter and kept his victims penned up near the great heiau (temple) of Mookini, 

 near Kawaihae, Hawaii. 



NEW FORMS OF APPARATUS PROPOSED. 



It is probable that the beam trawl could be used to advantage in the deeper 

 waters around the islands. This apparatus, which is an immense bag, with wide 

 flaring mouth, the bag running to a point at the end, is worked from the deck of a 

 sail or steam vessel. Long cables are attached to the sides of the mouth of the bag, 

 and the trawl is dropped overboard while the vessel is in motion. It sinks to the 

 bottom, and as the vessel moves forward is drawn along the bottom, scooping up 

 everj'thing in its path. When it has been down a sufficient length of time the vessel 

 is brought up into the wind, the trawl raised to the deck, where it is emptied, and then 

 dropped overboard for another trial. Sharks are very destructive to nets used in 

 the deeper waters, and also eat the fish out of them; with the beam trawl this would 

 be obviated. 



Pound nets made of fine wire could be used to advantage on the leeward side of 

 the islands and in the bays. Netting could not be used, as the sharks and larger 

 fishes would tear it to shreds while struggling to get in or out. 



Fyke or hoop nets would probably prove profitable in the bays and rivers. 

 Thev could be set and left without further attention until it was convenient for the 

 fisherman to raise them. 



BAIT. 



Caiclihiq of half . — The natives generally use live bait in the line fisheries, and their 

 method of catching it is rather interesting. In the morning a medium-length fine- 

 mesh seine is loaded in the canoe or canoes, each of which contains two or three 

 men. and is paddled about 10 or 50 feet from the shore. One man is left on the land, 

 and he runs along the rough, rocky shore with a small pail of dried opae, of which he 

 takes out a few at intervals, and, after chewing in his mouth a few moments, spits them 

 into his hand and throws them on to the surface of the water a short distance from 

 the shore. If no fish rise to the bait thrown out it is quite certain none is there, and 

 he runs on a little farther and repeats the operation. When fish rise to the surface 

 and nibble at the bait he signals to the canoemen, who immediately paddle in close to 

 the spot, and all but one, who is left in the boat to maneuver it, drop overboard with 

 the seine and sweep it around the spot, inclosing the fish. 



On most of the islands the nehu is the principal species of bait fish taken, while 

 on Hawaii the piha is also used for the same purpose. The young of many other 

 species are taken in these seines and used as bait, to the great havoc of the general 

 fisheries. 



Bait iii<e(J. — Live opae are very frequently used for bait in the line fisheries. 



All species of young fish are used as bait, both alive and dead, though the former 

 are preferred. In fishing for mahimahi (dolphin) young akule (called agi by the 

 Japanese) are used. 



