Ingenious Fishermen

How Papuans Make Catches

PAPUAN fishermen have various methods of capturing fish, and make use of great woven nets of native string, or of funnel shaped baskets, in addition to the usual spearing and line-catehing. Two very interesting ways, however, are by the use of “Tuva” (or “New Guinea dyna mite” as it is called), and the lime bottle.

In the latter method, a bottle is filled with lime and corked. Through the cork a small hole is made, so that when the bottle is thrown into the water, the mois ture gradually trickles in and acting on the lime causes it to explode the bottle, with good results so far as a haul of dead fish is concerned.

In using “Tuva,” a preparation made from the root of a certain vine is first procured. This, thrown into the water where fish are, produces the same effect as a strong dose of chloroform, and the stupefied or dead fish are collected as they float to the surface.

Another method is for a couple of men to go out in a canoe and paddle over a shallow patch of coral, throwing out a buoyed net to surround the canoe.

Then the man in the bow takes his spear, rubs some “Tuva” onto the point where the spear has been split, and pokes it into crevices in the coral.

Presently the fish come floating up, and are promptly picked up in a hand-net wielded by the boy amidships. The ef fect of “Tuva” is so potent by the way, that it is used as a poison by humans; and also figures in malevolent magic and

sorcery. — C. CORAL.