MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 219 
lucrative fisheries are.on the northern side, particularly on that of 
Vanua-levu, between Anganga and Druau. In this place, the most 
frequent kind is that which resembles crape. In some places the 
animal multiplies very fast, but there are others where, although ten 
years have elapsed since they were last fished, none are yet to be 
found. 
The biche de mar requires a large building to dry it in. That 
erected by Captain Eagleston, on the island of Tavea, is eighty-five 
feet long, about fifteen or twenty feet wide, and nearly as much in 
height. The roof has a double pitch, falling on each side of the ridge 
to eaves which are about five feet from the ground. The roof is well 
thatched, and ought to be perfectly water-tight. There are usually 
three doors, one at each end, and one in the middle of one of the sides. 
Throughout the whole length of the building is a row of double staging, 
called batters, on which reeds are laid. 
On the construction of this staging much of the success of the busi- 
ness depends. It ought to be supported on firm posts, to which the 
string-pieces should be well secured by lashing. The lower batter is 
about four feet from the ground, and the upper from two to three feet 
above it. Their breadth is from twelve to fourteen feet. Upon the 
large reeds with which the batters are covered is laid the “fish 
fence,” which is made by weaving or tying small cords together. 
This is composed of many pieces, the height of each of which is equal 
to the breadth of the batter. 
A trench is dug under the whole length of the batters, in which a 
slow fire is kept up by natives, under the direction of one of the mates 
of the vessel. The earth from the trench is thrown against the sides 
of the house, which are at least two or three feet from the nearest 
batter, in order to prevent accident from fire. This is liable to occur, 
not only from carelessness, but from design on the part of the natives. 
As a further precaution, barrels filled with water are placed about 
eight feet apart along both sides of the batters. 
After the house has been in use for about a week, it becomes very 
liable to take fire, in consequence of the drying and breaking of the 
material used in the lashings. In this case it is hardly possible to 
save any part of the building or its contents. ‘To prevent the falling 
of the stages by the breaking of the lashings, fresh pieces of cordage 
are always kept at hand to replace those which are charred, and show 
signs of becoming weak. A constant watch must be kept up night 
and day, and it requires about fifleen hands to do the ordinary work 
of a house. 
The fires are usually extinguished once in twenty-four hours, and 
