312 THE OCEAN. 
thicker than a quill, and perhaps three or four 
inches in length. Those used in taking sharks are 
formidable-looking weapons; some are a foot or 
fifteen inches long, exclusive of the curvatures, and 
not less than an inch in diameter. They are such 
frightful things, that no fish, less voracious than a 
shark, would approach them. In some the marks 
of the sharks’ teeth are numerous and deep, and 
indicate the effect with which they have been 
used.””* 
The most curious, as well as most serviceable 
hooks, are made of the inner part of the shell of 
the pearl-oyster, or other large bivalves, the inte- 
rior of which is pearly, called mother-of-pearl. 
These have great care and pains bestowed upon 
them: the smaller ones are cut almost circular, and 
made to resemble a worm, thus answering the pur- 
pose of bait as well as hook. A much larger kind 
is that used for the capture of the albacore, bonito, 
and coryphene. The shank is about six inches in 
length, and nearly an inch in width, cut out of 
pearl-shell, in the shape of a small fish, and finely 
polished. The barb is formed separately; it is an 
inch and a half in length, and is firmly bound in 
its place by a bandage of fine flax. The line is 
fastened to this, and braided all along the curve of 
the hook, and again fastened at the head. Some- 
times a number of long bristles are attached to the 
shell to mimic the appearance of the Flying-fish. 
The line is affixed to the end of a long bamboo 
rod; and the anglers, sitting in the stern of a light 
* Ellis. 
