Deep-Sea Fishing in Polynesia . 117 
the men forward hold their nets in readiness, 
and their keen eyes search the water ahead and 
on each side of them. In another moment the 
canoes are in among a swarm of flying-fish, 
lying almost motionless upon the surface, 
dazzled by the blinding light. 
With quick, lightning-like sweep, the man 
forward darts his scoop upon the water, and, 
swiftly reversing it, raises it again, and a cry of 
triumph escapes him. Mate (struck ! ) he cries. 
Inside the netting there is a gleam of burnished 
silver and blue, and, with a deft sweep, round 
comes the scoop, and half-a-dozen fish are 
dropped into the after part of the canoe, 
where they lie beating out their lives with 
outstretched fins and quivering tails. 
There is no need for silence now, and shouts 
and cries of emulation from one canoe to 
another reach the ears of the women on shore, 
who call out in return. Splash, splash, and 
the deadly scoops sweep up the fish which lie 
grouped together in dozens, and then, realising 
at last the fate that awaits them in that fierce, 
strange light, they leap and fly hither and 
thither in every direction, and seek refuge in 
the darkness. 
