The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-12-15

2sa1 0 cr were Killed. These deer have
about the fame peruiiariticl r4 the
California deer. 20 which they have a
slight resemblance. Inc autlcrs of Al
fuii-grown bu.S, which arc tarce prong
ed. measure some two and ore-halfI
feet IN length. with a spread Of one
and one-half feet.
one might conclude that the angler
would ind nothing 10 attract him tol
the islands. for in the eight islands
composing the group there are but few
large streams and these offer but
small sport. However. deep-sea fishing
Is sure thing for those who like ia At
sport. or the many fish which inhaDit
the surrounding waters. none nave Of
late years attracted more attention
than has the skip-jack. or bonito. The
local Fish Commissioner record show
that some 2l6,77 Of these fish have been
landed at the port OF Honolulu duriag
the last nine months, four-fifths of
which were caught by japanese fisher
men off the coast OF Oahu and at
small outlying shoals. A word on the
method OF angling for the skip-jack by
the hardy little brown men might he of
interest to the reader.
Leaving the harbor anchorage a
short time before sunset in their oddly
constructed boats or sampans, these
Japanese fishermen may be seen by
dozens, plying their way out to their
favorite fishing grounds, some two or
more miles from land. Arriving at the
shoals. the anchor is cast and prepara-
tions are Immediately under way for
the nights fishing. Bamboo poles are
placed parallel along the sides Of tseI
boat, over which are hung the hand
fish lines about two feet apart, baited
with live shrimps. The skip-jacks are
lured toward the boat by torches In
the bow, the fish being exceedingly
voracious are easily caught, and on be-
ing landed are thrust into sieve-like
compartment, formed of screen wire
fitted over the under side of space
about two by four feet in the bot
tom of the boat. BY this means con-
slant flow of fresh water Is obtained
when the boat is in motion, and the
fish are therefore landed alive the fol-
lowing morning at the fish markets.
The native Hawaiians fish with stiff
bamboo rods some ten feet long, Off the
Jagged cliffs which surround the sea
coast, and also in the surf from the
coral reefs All kinds of fish are caught
in these latter localities, especially the
highly colored fish for which the is
lands are noted. At certain seasons OF
the year fine mullet fishing may be had
from the many pier heads in the harbor
of Honolulu and elsewhere.
Since the advancement of the power
boats shark fishing has become very
popular, and catches of twelve and
eighteen-foot fellows are of common
! occurrence.
/ OF fresh-water fish the islands can
not boast, although the matter of Inn
porting foreign game fish has been
talked over many times, but without
results. Whether on account of the
sea being in sight and 80 easily reached
or for some other reason, angling by
the white population in the islands has
never amounted to much, a rod with
the latest reel being almost If not en-
! tirely unknown. Nevertheless, any
energetic person will find salt water
angling in Hawaii sport long to be re-
membered.
II may be that the islands seem out
of the way, but when one is made TO
! understand the exceptional ease and
the low cost of entrance and exit from
the best fish and game regions, the OBJ
jections are easily overcome.
There is a wonderful restfulness in
the scenery. and the charm of the
region is one not to be overlooked by
the sportsman tourist; and he who
wishes to be in the baclSwoods with
the least delay, at the least expense,
and free to enjoy the forest life, should
seek the Hawaiian Islands.