426 METHOD OF SUSPENDING THE PALU-HOOK. 



pana ; in the actual fishing line, a piece of cocoanut-fibre rope 

 about two feet in length.* In the model this is passed under 

 and over the outriggers to their distal ends, and further secured 

 at the centre of each outrigger by a half-hitch. At the distal 

 ends of the latter these cords of attachment are bound to them 

 by whipping, and then pass to the upper extremity of the major 

 shanks of the hooks, where they are made fast. 



In the largest Mortlock Island hook the oukafakancqmna is 

 terminated by both a knot and an eye for bending on to the main 

 line, but Hedley says that in the Ellice Islands implement a knot 

 only is used; the model agrees with the latter. Another Mort- 

 lock Island hook, twelve inches in length, retains both the cord 

 of attachment and outrigger, the former j^assing along the latter 

 just as in the model, but instead of passing under and over, and 

 with a half-hitch in the centre, it is simply laid against the 

 outrigger and lashed at the centre, otherwise this specimen 

 exemplifies the great accuracy of the model. Unlike that of the 

 seventeen-inch hook, the cord of attachment of this twelve-inch 

 hook terminates in an eye only, and not a knot and an eye. 



To the bottom of the line is made fast a piece of bast, which 

 acts as the suspensory of the sinker. The latter consists of a 

 piece of coral carefully ground to the shape of a fender, and 

 secured to its suspensory by a square lacing of the same material. 



According to Mr. Louis Becke, the Palu line is made from the 

 very best cocoanut-fibre, four- to six-ply, and the sinker is from 

 three to six pounds. f Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Crummer 

 I am able to exhibit such a line that has actually been in use; 

 this, however, is only a two-ply line. 



* Loc. clL, 1897, iii. Pt. 4, p. 276. 

 t Waite, loc. ciL, 1897, iii. Pt. 3, p. 200. 



