Frank Coffee

“ Outside Tahiti, natives catch flying-fish by fixing a sail in a small boat, against which they suspend a small light. "The fish is attracted by the light, toward which it flies, with the result that it hits sail or mast and drops into the boat. Another method of catching other fish at Tahiti is rather novel. The native chews cocoanut into fine threads, which he wraps around a stone, making it fast by tying a fish-line around it with a slip-noose. At the end of the line is a fish-hook. ”

“ De Rougemont may have been romancing when he talked about his own turtle-riding experiences, but the fact remains that turtle-riding is by no means a difficult feat. On the Great Barrier Reef, which runs along the North Queensland coast, "joy rides" on turtles are an exciting and thrilling pastime. The turtles when they come ashore at night are intercepted on their way back to the water and incapacitated by being turned over on their backs. When the party is ready for the sport, the turtles are put on their feet, or their flippers, again, and the riders sit astride their backs. ”

“ Throughout the islands, "fish drives" are held in the lagoon at regular intervals. I saw one once. The natives, armed with their many-pronged spears and plaited bags of utu-nut, as it is called in Raratonga, had assembled on the beach. At a given signal they waded into the lagoon, a large proportion of them trailing behind with the bags of utu-nut , The spear-bearers formed lines across the lagoon, and the people with the utunut walked slowly about, scattering it. ”

“ At Rockhampton, Queensland, a feature of their carnival week is the turtle race. The jockeys catch a flipper in each hand, and have to exercise great agility to retain control. Unless they are careful, the turtle will dive and then the rider is off the turtle and out of the race. ”

“ As soon as the noose is tight, a signal is given, and the shark is quickly hauled tail first into the boat, to its astonishment and to the consternation of anybody who gets in its way while it is still alive and vigorous.
The Rev. William Wyatt Gill, who did a great deal of missionary work at Aitutaki, has also described the natives' daring actions in regard to sharks. There once lived on the island a very successful shark-catcher named Reubena, whose ancestors had excelled in the perilous sport for generations. One day Reubena, with a noose in his hand, dived down into a submarine cave. ”

“ Strange tales are told about sailors, ignorant of its value, scrubbing it off the decks where waves had carried it. Sometimes it has been found high and dry on beaches. At Honolulu a big lump, a mixture of sand and ambergris, was found on the beach and used as a door weight until its real composition was revealed. Then it was sold for $750. Captain Allen, of the Samoan and Ellice Islands, once gathered a cask of the precious stuff from the sea, and knowing what it was, got full value for his find. ”

“ They are always cooked entire, whatever may be their size, and are enclosed in a long basket made from the cocoanut leaf. The flesh of a young shark is not bad eating. The Maoris have nowadays lost all interest in the old-time institution of shark-fishing. The present generation of them much prefer tinned salmon or dried shark, as a relish. But in the old days, the Maoris looked forward to shark-fishing as a national holiday. ”

“ The fish are attracted by the lights, and the birds then dive repeatedly, catching the fish in their mouths, but are prevented from swallowing them by the brass ring around the neck. As soon as the fisherman decides the bird has enough fish, he pulls the cord and it returns to the boat, when the gullet is emptied. When this is done, the bird returns again for further supplies. The fishermen are very expert, and rarely ever get the lines mixed. ”

“ There are many little nooks in the rocks where the fish hide, and to prevent the waves from breaking into the place, the natives build walls of coral. The nut is then grated and thrown into the water, the fish become stupefied and they are easily picked up. ”

“ The natives of the Line Islands, i.e., the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, near the equator, are so expert in catching flyingfish, that they stand in a skiff with a torch in the left hand, and scoop in the right, and when the fish are attracted to the flame, they will swing the scoop and catch several at a time. ”

“ When the young are able to wriggle, they make for the sea, and at times large numbers are devoured by the fish and the male turtle. They are rich in oil. Their eggs are soft-shelled, but are much liked by the natives. ”

“ When carcases of the whales, after the killers have had one of their busy days, lie strewn along the beach, the place, strange to say, becomes a health resort. Rheumatic patients visit Twofold Bay then and try the whale cure, which consists in almost burying one's self in a whale's body, thus getting a bath of blubber, which, it is said, generally rids them of their complaint. ”

“ In some islands, particularly Christmas Island, the Ellice and Phoenix groups, turtles are very plentiful. They breed rapidly. The female turtle will swim ashore at high tide and crawl along the sands, probably scraping several holes before she settles down to lay her eggs. ”

“ A species of killer is also found off the coast of California and British Columbia, where they indulge in fierce fights with whales, and huge volumes of spray and foam are thrown up. In the Behring Sea this killer is very destructive among the seal herds. ”

“ Summoning courage, however, they addressed the god, saying, "Famine and death threaten our people. What may we do to save them?" The god replied: "You can save your people only by great sacrifice." "You"—addressing the princess—"must jump from yon cliff into the sea, where you will be turned into a turtle. And you"—turning to the prince—"must do likewise, and your form will be changed to that of a shark." This they immediately did, and ever since, at various times, the natives will congregate on the shore at this spot and chant a native song, thus:
"Fonea! ”

“ Major Large, the Government Resident, has often seen this very interesting exploit, and as he speaks from his own observations, and not merely from what has been told him, and is, moreover, a most reliable man, we may accept as correct what he has narrated. ”

“ It is said that the killers have some kind of telepathy, for if a pack at the south of the bay attack a whale, and there is a pack at the north end, five miles off, they seem to get a message and come rushing through the ocean, to join their mates. Each of the killers is known by its peculiar marks. ”