The dugouts are not that buoyant, and possibly six men help haul the boat over the incoming surf into the choppy sea. The whole procedure seems very risky at best, and once the men are in the boats, they have to simultaneously paddle and bail like hell. Of course, they can only do one thing, so it's a battle between sinking and getting swamped.

I couldn't hope but think this procedure has lasted for hundreds, if not thousands of years, without any technological advancement.

I also noticed there weren't any old fishermen

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