-
3. On the Ocean
- The Kent State University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
3 .~~~~ ON THE OCEAN I/..nuta is a tiny island, measuring only a half mile in diameter. Its nearest neighbor, 30 miles to the southeast, is Patutaka. This is an uninhabited "rock" about three quarters of a mile in length and perhaps a quarter mile across. Seventy miles to the southwest is Tikopia, measuring about three miles in length and a mile and a half in width (Firth 1963:21-22). The islands of the Santa Cruz group are yet another 150 miles to the west. Not only is Anuta small and isolated, but it is a volcanic island with a fringing reef and no lagoon. Thus, any time Anutans take their canoes, it is to travel on the open ocean; they therefore must contend with surf and swells in even such a mundane enterprise as boarding a calling ship (plate 3). FISHING Most frequently, Anutans venture out to sea to obtain fish. I have discussed the Anutans' impressive repertoire of fishing techniques elsewhere (Feinberg 1981a:27-34). Much of that discussion is peripheral to present concerns and need not be repeated here. A few comments, however , are in order. Although Anutans distinguish ngokai 'food' from ika 'fish', no meal is considered complete without some form of animal protein, and Anutans devote a great deal of time and effort to obtaining fish. Islanders will Plate 3. Canoes, having been launched from beach onto reef flat (te tai), prepare to meet the surf en route to open sea. cast with pole and line from the beach or reef (tiiti), hold communal fish drives on the reef (paangota), spear fish on the reef or in the ocean (panapana ), or fish with hook and line while treading water over a submerged reef in the open sea (taukurakura). By far the most productive methods, however, require a canoe. In descending order of productivity, these include bottom-fishing over offshore reefs, trolling with a plastic lure or rigged octopus tentacle, deep-sea fishing with hook and line, and night fishing for flying fish with a light and a long-handled net. Anuta has no channel through the reef. The two major passages consist of flat and relatively smooth patches of coral in the southwestern section of the island. During the tradewind season or tonga, the passages are in the island's lee, and thus the surf is moderate for much of the year. Yet even on calm days waves break on the reef and canoes can only be launched through the surf. Anutans are protective of their canoes and will not take them to the ocean when there is danger of their being damaged. When heavy surf precludes the launching of canoes, Anutans can usually swim out to sea to spearfish or taukurakura (,swim-fish' with hook and line). On those occasions when the surf cannot be negotiated even by 23 ONTHE OCEAN [3.236.171.68] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 08:11 GMT) 24 POLYNESIAN SEAFARING AND NAVIGATION a swimmer, fish are procured by one of several methods on the fringing reef. Nonetheless, on about half the days that I was in residence in 1972-1973, canoes were taken out on fishing expeditions. CONTACT WITH VISITING SHIPS The next most frequent reason at the present time to take canoes to sea is to get to and from visiting ships. Since the 1960sgovernmental authorities have attempted to send a ship to Anuta about once a month. Although this commitment has been honored mostly in the breach, Anutans now expect at least a half dozen visits per year by an official vessel.' In addition, the mission yacht Southern Cross attempts to call about once a year. At two-year intervals, a labor recruiting vessel from the Levers copra plantations in the Russell Islands calls at Anuta. Pleasure yachts, research craft, and foreign fishing boats also visit sporadically. As there is no inshore anchorage, visiting ships anchor at sea, between a quarter mile and a half mile beyond the reef. Alternately, they may drift with their engines running so that they can pull away if wind and current should drive them dangerously close to the reef or begin to carry them away from land. In either case, the only way to get ashore is by small boat or canoe. Government ships and research vessels are likely to carry a launch for purposes of landing on such islands as Anuta. Pleasure yachts and fishing boats often do not. But even ships equipped with landing craft do not...