H. Newman 1964 Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands beef. The fish still was relatively unsuccessful. We had waited too long so that the morning Tide was running strongest just as we put out the nets and it was carried away too quickly. We waited around until dark, then went after birds for blood samples and specimens. While waiting we noticed the natives preparing sticks about two feet long, obviously to be used against the birds in some manner. Just before it got dark they went off and each climbed a tree and waited for the boobies to come in to roost. They stun the birds with the club, tie their head in their wings and drop them below. Kirby told me that 8 men working in this manner can collect 4-500 birds in about 4 hours, which they then take back and salt. They took about 30 this time. Though its not pretty, I feel no condemnation of the practice since it is a kind of harvest for these people. Humans are a basic part of the ecology here, in a more natural and less reprehensible way than "civilized" people who can drive the passenger pigeon Millions to extinction for sport.