260 
MODES OF 
from sinking too low. When set, the native either 
remains by it to take the fish out as they are caught, 
or leaves it there all night. The fish swimming 
about the lagoon, or sporting near the surface, strike 
against the net,' and get their heads fast in the 
meshes. The net swinging loose, yields to their 
pressure, and entangles them the more as they 
struggle to extricate themselves from it. This is a 
most destructive mode of catching fish, and gene- 
rally secures the finest and largest. 
Fish are sometimes taken in another way. A party 
of natives proceed to a lagoon, or lake of still water, 
each carrying in his hand a small net (ken-de-ran-ko) 
of a semi-oval shape, about twenty inches long, from 
seven to nine inches across, and from five to seven 
inches deep. This net is kept in shape by a thin 
hoop of wood running round it in the upper part. 
With this the native dives to the bottom, and 
searches among the weeds until he sees a fish ; he 
then cautiously places the net under it, and, rising 
suddenly to the surface, holds his victim at arm’s 
length above his head ; and then biting it to kill it, 
he throws it on the shore and dives down again for 
another. 
The natives are very skilful in this mode of 
fishing, and it is an interesting sight to see several 
of them in the water diving together, and exerting 
themselves against each other in their efforts to 
catch the best fish, whilst the affrighted inhabitants 
of the water swim wildly and confusedly about. 
