310 THE OCEAN. 
now commenced paddling with all their might, while 
the headsman produced a great noise by stamping on 
the hollow box of the canoe. The Flying-fish, which 
were securely feeding at the outer edge of the reef, 
terrified by the noise and splashing of the oars, 
darted out to sea. The torch answered a double pur- 
pose; enabling the headsman to discern his prey, and 
dazzle the eyes of the fishes; and as they dashed past 
the canoe, on the surface of the water, be thrust 
forward his net, and turned it over upon them. 
Many of the natives have acquired great skill in 
this exercise, and the quickness of their sight, and 
the celerity of their movements are astonishing; so 
that sometimes vast quantities of fish are taken in 
this manner.* 
A large number of fishes are taken with the hook, 
as by more cultivated nations; and with all the 
superiority in art, and all the advantage of metals 
possessed by Europeans, the native-made hooks are 
preferred, as far more effective than ours. Many 
of them are really beautiful productions, and, when 
we consider their total want of metallic tools, ex- 
cite our astonishment at the skill and ingenuity of 
the manufacturers. Our hooks are all made on one 
pattern, however varying in size; but the forms 
of theirs are exceedingly various, and made of dif- 
ferent substances, viz., wood, shell, and bone. “The ..... 
hooks made with wood are curious; some are ex- 
ceedingly small, not more than two or three inches 
in length, but remarkably strong; others are large. 
The wooden hooks are never barbed, but simply 
* Missionary Enterprises, p. 270. 
