How Did They Catch Parrot Fish in Rota in the Past
Some of the interesting observations of former Governor Cortes included some fishing techniques of the Chamorro people in Luta (Rota). One particular fishing technique involves the use of a live decoy, the Låggua, [Parrot Fish]. 
To start one must catch a Låggua alive and without taking it from the water, make a hole in its back fin, and then keep it prisoner in a stone corral that is specially constructed in some shallow basin of the reef.
When it is time to fish for more, they will lead the tied up Låggua behind a canoe to deep hallow areas within the reef where it is known that the Låggua frequents. From there they will let out the line until the captive Låggua touches the bottom. The captive Lugua is then used to lure out other Låggua, that may be stationary in a coral reef hole, to fight with him. The fisherman will then begin to pull the line until the Låggua that is following the captive Låggua is within reach of the Fisherman’s spear and then toka! Ha konne’ i Låggua! (He catches the Låggua.)
At the time of this recording by Cortes, he noted that not that many used this technique. Also the Guam Recorder, where this story comes from noted that Mr. Gregorio Calvo who was a native of Rota for twenty years [since the original article in 1926] added more insight to this fishing technique. According to Calvo, the decoys were “secured by loops made in the extremely long slender tail-fins, which were doubled back on themselves and then lashed firmly into place. A rope of pago-bark passed through the loops in the tail would not tear out as easily as one inserted in a hole made in the easily torn back fin.”
Guampedia.com offers a similar story about this fishing technique.
References:
Felipe de la Cortes. 1926. Memoirs of Don Felipe de la Cortes, Eleven Years as Governor of Guam 1855-1866. Guam Recorder, December 1926, Volume 3, Number 9
Dominica Tolentino, ' Ancient Chamorro Fishing Tools', referenced December 6, 2013, © 2009 Guampedia™, URL: http://guampedia.com/ancient-chamorro-fishing-tools/
