The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-01-22

/ imported fishing boat. which the fish
ermen think Is superior to those q
local manufacture. The boats are q
peculiar shape and are OF different
/ sizes, some able 70 accommodate bu,
three men. which is an ordinary crew
and others are large enough for seven
or eight men.
Now that the fish are getting
I scarcer. it IS necessary for the FISH.
ermen to go farther for their catches
than was formerly necessary, and very
often these apparently fraiI and
cranky looking boats go nearly 10
Moiokai and aakapuu Point, where
the fishing is good. Only the larger
boats are used for the deep sea fish
ing. as they are sometimes out several
( days. and must have room TO carry
the fish caught. and provisions neces-
sary for the tip.
Notwithstanding the frail appear
ance Of the boats, they are strongly
constructed and good sea boats, and
as usual thing are fast sailers.
On Punchbowl street, in Kakaako,
a great many CT the boats are built.
ana the launching OF one of TIE larger
kind is always an event OF a great
deal OF interest to an onlooker, and
Of great Importance to the men who
are to opera.e the boat When the
boat is completed the owners and
builders and their friends decorate
her with Japanese flags, lanterns and
flowers. Tnen they take her to the
water, into which she glides amid a
great shouting and halloing BIZ the
crowd.
Up TO the time tnat the vessel is
launched there is no captain selected
for the boat. ne choosing of this
important factor in every case is left
until the boat is in the water II is
known VINO the members OF the crew
are, and from them the captain is sa-
lected. \ knowledge of seafaring is
not apparently necessary for man TO
be captain OF Japanese fishing
boat, as the following will show:
When the boat is in the water and
moored securely the members of the
crew, who are generally the owners
OF the boat. strip themselves and get
into the boat. Then the fun of making
the selection Of the commander be-
gins. There is no voting or drawing
of lots to settle the matter. At
given signal from one of the crowd
on shore. who are watching, the men
in the boat begin with all their might
to try and throw each other out into
the water. Each man is against the
cthcr. AID So the struggle as a usual
tang lasts long time and is remark
ably exciting. All the time the play
goes on the friends of the contestants
yell words of cheer to the struggling
men in the boat ana throw buckets of !
water on them, ana into the boat. |
seemingly with the idea of makingi
the battle ground more slippery. IS
well as refreshing % the men at work. |
As soon as man is thrown out of |
the boat he must stay out, but may |
assist with water if he so desires. The /
NAiO StsAs III NR4t uOdI lOlis,SSl. tE |
rather who is able to put all the others |
out of the boat, has by his prowess
shown himself competent to be cap !
tain. and so he is greeted with much /
applause and showereG with congratu-
iaions at the termination of the scuf- |
fle. There is no appeal from the Sc |
lection so made and the man so chosen !
continues to be captain until he vol |
unfairly retires or sells out his share |
in the boat.
The novel way of getting a skipper |
seems very satisfactory to the fisher |
men, and it certainty affords a great |
deal OF amusement 10 strangers who |
happen to be about during the election
of commander.