In addition to the seine, we had occasionally observed in canoes alongside the ship a small scoop-net with a very long handle, and once procured a fishing hook of singular construction.

This last is represented by the right hand figure of the accompanying woodcut.

It is seven inches in length, made of some hard wood, with an arm four and a half inches long, turning up at a sharp angle, and tipped with a slightly curved barb of tortoise-shell projecting horizontally inwards an inch and a half.
POISONOUS FISH.
During the afternoon one of the crew of a boat upon the reef, while incautiously handling a frog-fish (Batrachus) which he had found under a stone, received two punctures at the base of the thumb from the sharp dorsal spines partially concealed by the skin.

Immediately severe pain was produced which quickly increased until it became intolerable, and the man lay down and rolled about in agony.

He was taken on board the ship in a state of great weakness.