The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-23


The Hawaiians have five methods of
fishing: by spearing, hand catching,
baskets. hook and line, and with nets.
The Ia o is the spearing of fish and is
of two kinds, below and above water.
That below water is the most import
ant, and is generally employed for the
different kinds of rock fish, The spear
used by the diver is a slender stick of
from 6 to feet in length made of very
hard wood and sharply pointed at one
end, but more tapering at the other.
Since the possession of iron, spears are
always tipped with it, but perfectly
smooth, without hook or barb. Diving
to well-known station by a large cor
81 rock or against the steep face Of the
reefs the diver places himself in half
crouching position on his left foot, with
his right foot free and extended be-
hind, his left hand holding on to the
rock to steady himself watches and
waits for the fish. Fish in only two posi-
lions are noticed by him, those passing
before and parallel to him, and those
coming straight towards his face. He
always aims a little in advance, as, by
the time the fish is struck. its motion
has carried it so far forward that 1t
will be hit on the gills or middle of the
body and thus secured, but if the spear
I1ror oir Of he no
very apt to hit the tail, or pass behind.
When the fish is hit, the force of the
blow generally carries the spear right
through to the hand, thus bringing the
fish up to the lower part or handle of
the spear, where it remains whist the
fisherman strikes rapidly at other fish
in succession should they come in a
huakai (train) as they usually do.
Except in the case of Oopuhue spear
ing. above-water spearing is very rare
ly used, and then generally in connec-
ton with deep sea line and hook fish
ing. Oopuhue is the well-known poi
son fish of the Pacific, but of delicious
flavor. 1t is generally speared in en-
closed salt water ponds from the stone
embankments. The poison of this fish
is contained in three little sacks which
must be extracted whole and unin INJURED.
The fish is first skinned, as the rough
akin is also poisonous in a slight de-
gree. Should the teeth of the fish be
yellow then it is so highly charged with
poison that no part of it's flesh is safe
even with the most careful preparation
Ooruhue caught in the open sea are al
ways more poisonous than those from
| fish ponds
Some fishermen dive to well-knowr
| habitats of certain fish and Holsters
| and, thrustiug their arms up to their
armpits under rocks or in holes, bring
out the fish one by one and put them
| into a bag attached for the purpose tC
| the nalo or loin cloth. Women fire.
quently do the same in shallow waters
and catch fish by hand from under cor
| al projections. 1t is also a favorite
! method employed by women in the, cap
| ture of the larger varieties of shrimpS
| and oopus in the fresh water streams
| and kalo ponds. Gold fish are also
caught in that way, and at the present
| time form no inconsiderable portion OF
| the daily food of the poorer classes liv-
| ing near kalo patches or fresh water
| ponds. Their power OF reproduction
| is very great The different kinds oi
edible sea sugs are caught in the same
| way, although the larger kinds are
sometimes dived for and speared under
water.
| There are two ways of octopus fish
| ing: In shallow water the spear is used
| Women generally attend to this. Theil
practised eye can tell if an octopus is
| in a hole whose entrance is no larger
| than a silver dollar, and plunging theil
| spears in they invariably draw one
out These mol1usks have the peculiar
| property of drawing themselves out anC
| COMPRISING their bodies SO as To pass
| through very narrow apertures many
| times smaller than the natural size oil
| thickness of their bodies. Those caught
| in the shallow waters vary from one
| to four feet in length, but the larger
| kinds live in deep water always ant
are known as heeokaiuli (blue water
| octopus). They are caught with cow
ries OF the Mauritania and sometime:
| of the Tiger species. One or more OF
| these shells is attached to a string Will
an eblong pebble on the face of the
| shells through which the line is passed
| and having been fastened is allowed K
| project few inches below. and a llool
| whose point stands almost perpendicu
lar to the shaft or shank is then fasten
ed to the end of the line Only thu
| finest kind of Mauritania or Tiger COW
ries are employed Tor this purpose a.
tie octopus Will not rise to large
/ spotted or ugly one. The spots on tn
| hack must be very small and red
| breaking through a reddish brown
ground: such a shell would have tn,
/ strongest attractions for an octopus
and is called ipo tlover). Cowries Will
| suitable spots, but Objectionable other
wise, are slightly steamed over fire o
sugar cane husks. This has the effee
Of giving them the desired hue.
The fisherman having arrived at hi
fishing grounds first chews and spits o.
. the water a mouthful Of candle nu