PREFATORY NOTE 



A fish story needs no apology ; and no affidavit nor string 

 of affidavits can add anything to its credibility. The high- 

 est authorities in ethics have indicated the angler's privileges. 

 It is agreed that " It is better to lie about your great catch of 

 trout, than to make it." Furthermore, the greatest authori- 

 ties in science agree that the trout lies in the bottom of the 

 stream, even as the truth lies at the bottom of a well. It is 

 therefore fitting that men should lie about the trout. 



"Tusitala," the one' who talks lengthwise, is the Kava- 

 name of the greatest of modern story-tellers. " Talinoa i 

 faiva," one who tells fish-stories, is the more modest Kava- 

 name given likewise in Samoa to one of the authors of this 

 book. But for reasons which will appear, it would be more 

 appropriately bestowed on his present associate. 



In further evidence of the truth of the tales here set forth, 

 we may only note that both authors are Californians. Those 

 interested in distinguishing the work of the individual 

 authors may apply the well-known rules of the Higher Crit- 

 icism. 



D. S. J. 



