New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
CHOOSING 4 CAPTAIN.
THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE CUSTOM OF THE JAP
ANEsE FISHERMEN OF HAWAII
From The Honolulu Republican.
other reasons.

ANESE FISHERMEN OF HAWAI-.
From The Honolulu Republican.
Where several years ago the fishing for the
sunnlvipp of the Honolulu market was done al
most exclusively by the natives in their canoes
and a few Cinnamon. now the bulk OF the WORK
is done by the japanese VINO are at 1t III s'ea
numbers. -, r..
The boats which they are built here after
patterns used in Japan. and once IN While an
Oriental steamer arriving from tht VS. n plInsS
a imported fishing boat, Whlch the HSliei"'eh
think is superior to those of local MANUFACTURES.
The boats are of Il peculiar shape and are OF dlt-
ferent sizes. able To accommodate put
! three men, which is an ordinary crew, and others
are large enough for seven or eight men.
Now that the fish are getting scarcer IT is nee
/ eSSary for the fishermen to go further Tor theH
catches than was formerly necessary; ana very
often these apparently frail and cranky looking
boats go nearly to Molokai and Makapuu iolnt'
where the fishing is good only the larger o'at9
are used for the deep fishing, as they are
sometimes out several days and must have room
t. carry the fish caught and provisions necessary
| for the trip.
! Notwithstanding the frail appearance Of the
boats. they strongly constructed ana GOOD
sea boats. and Il usual thing are fast sallerS
ON PunchhoWl-st.. in kakaako great many
Of the boats are built. ana the launching OF one
! Of the larger kind is always an event OF great
deal Of interest to an onlookcr ana Of great I'M
/ p,rtancc To the men who are To operate the
/ boat. When the boat is completed TN" owners
ana builders and their friends decorate her with
Japanese flags lanterns and noWcrS- Iheh
! tEcy take her To the water int" which she
glides amid great shouting and halIooing by
/ tn" crowd
/ Up To the time that the vessel is launched
| there is no captain selected for the boat The
, choosing If this important factor in every case
/ is left until the boat Is in the water. II Is
/ known who the members Of tn" crew are, and
/ from thcm ts captain is selected. knoWl-
7 edge 81 SeafarinE is not apparently necessary
for "a man To- bc a captain of Japanese fish
ini, boat aa the following VIII show.
Whom tho boat is in the water and moored
/ securely. the members Of the crew. who are
/ gen, rally the owners of thu loat. striI them
/ selves and get into tn" h.at. Then the fun of
making the selection Of the commander begins.
/ There voting or drawing Of lots 10 settle
/ thu matter Al a given signal from one of the
crowd On shore. no are watching. the men in
the boat begin with all their might to try 10
throw oa-n other out into the water Each
man is AGAINST the other. and So the struggle,
/ as "a usual thing. lasts a long time and is
markably exciting. All the time the play goes
I on tn" friends ii the contestants yell words of
/ chrrl to the struggling men in the boat and
throw buckets of water on them and into the
boat. seemingly with the idea of making the
/ battle-ground more slippery as we'll as refresh
ing To- the men at work. As soon a man is
. thrown out OF tho boat he must stay out. but
. may assist with water if he 50 desires The
man who stays IN the boat longest, or rather
who is able to put all the others out of the
potent to hr captain. and So ne is greeted with
much appl3us" and shoWcr"d with congratulate
tions at Tho termination Of the scutiic. There