The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-17
native is apparently as much at home be-
low the surface as above it, his wonderful

native is apparently as much at home be-
low. the surface above it, his wonderful
skill sometimes saves him.
Frequently the native seeks the shark In
coves and caves below the surface after
the fish has gorged itself and sleeps with
its head forced into the sides Of its rest
ing place. The diver gently slips a
moose around the tail and the shark is
then hauled up and dispatched. The
slightest false movement Of the diver
would startle the shark and he would
probably regret having attacked. Yet
experts have been known to capture six or
eight sharks In day in this manner.
In the olden times the catching of the
Niuhi was made royal sport. but there
has been no regular Niuhi fishery for
nearly one hundred years. A large guam
tity of the livers of the common shark
would be obtained, and these. with a lit
tie Of the flesh, would be wrapped up In
the leaves of the ii plant and baked I'M
foreground. At times pig meat would also
be used. From fifty to a hundred of the
largest single and double canoes would be
loaded with. the baked meat and large
quantities of the pounded roots OF the
ava, mixed with little water and put In
gourds. The fleet would sail many miles
out to sea in the direction from which the
Niuhi was known to appear. and, arriving
at comparatively shallow place, anchor.
be thrown overheard, a few bundles at a
time, to attract the sharks. After a few
days the grease and scent of the cooked
meat would spread through the water for
many miles in every direction. About the
third or fourth day the Niuhi would ap-
pear. Then bundles Of the baked meat
would be thrown out as fast as it could
swallow them After while the shark
would get compare lively tame and would
come up to one or the other of the ca
noes to be fed. Bundles of the liver with
| the pounded ava would then be given it,
| and it would soon become not only salts
fed, but also stupetied from the effects Of
the ava. That would be the end. n
| moose being slipped over the sharks head,
the fleet would up anchor and set sail for
home, the shark following a willing pris-
oner, being fed with more Of the meat and
ava from time to time. 1t would be led
into shallow water and there stranded and
killed. Every part of it's bones and skin
was supposed to confer unflinching BRAY
cry on the possessor, while the actual cap
tor. he who slipped the moose over the
animals head. would also, ever after, be
| always victorious.
Human flesh was also formerly used as
bait. The victim was cut up and left to
decompose for two or three days is bar
rel or tub In olden times the use of this
kind of bait was in great vogue with the
Kings ana cnleIS. IL Was uSeu because IL
was much cheaper and more easily Sc
cured than pig or shark liver, was equally
acceptable to the shark, and gave the king
or chief an opportunity to get rid OF any
one who was in his way or to whom he
had taken dislike. Kamehameha l., the
Napoleon of the group was a great shark
hunter and kept his victims penned up
near the great heiau. or temple. of Moo
KIM, near Kawaihae, Hawaii, until he was
ready to use them.
Sharks teeth are highly priced by the
| natives while the oil extracted is valuable
and of good quality The fins are fire.
| quently dried and shipped to China. where
they are considered a great delicacy.