308 



Transactions. 



fig 



other and then return at a sharp angle to the bank. The fences are 

 constructed of rows of stakes placed within 1 in. or 2 in. of each other, 

 which are held firnilv in position by horizontal beams lashed on. (See 



3.) 



While this work was progressing other natives were employed cutting 

 and sorting out manuka brush and bracken. The latter is carefully tied into 

 small bundles about 2 in. in diameter, and lashed to the stakes under the 

 water, stems up-stream. Other stakes are driven in to assist in holding the 

 bundles, which are forced down until they form a solid mass through which 

 even the water can scarcely find a passage. About 1 ft. above the ordinary 

 water-level manuka brush takes the place of the bracken, as it is stronger 

 and, being on top, can be more easily repaired than the bracken, though the 

 latter lasts much better than the manuka in the water. This manuka brush 

 is also closely wattled together and carried right to the top of the stakes. 

 The whole fence is then securely lashed from the heavy horizontal timber 

 (which in this small type of pa-tuna is on top) to the shore by heavy cross- 

 beams, especially strong sticks being carried from the angle of the pa-tuna 

 down-stream to the shore. Two heavy posts are next driven in about 

 1 ft. down-stream from the mouth of the weir, one opposite each angle, to 

 which thev are securely braced, and thev are also braced to each other. 



Fie. 3. — V-shaped weir. The arrow shows the direction of the current. 

 1, braces ; 2, poha ; 3, hinaki. 



These carry the poha, or leading-net, which is shaped something like a huge 

 phonograph-trumpet, with diamond-shaped meshes, which appear to the 

 uninitiated to be too large ; but apparently the eels, in the full force of 

 the strong current, which converging to such a narrow point is exceedingly 

 swift — indeed, it is quite a miniature waterfall — are unable to detect this 

 way of escape. The small end of this net is securely sewn to the mouth of 

 the hinaki with green flax (harakeke), and four cross-pieces of manuka about 

 5 ft. long, notched where they intersect, are then fastened to the large end 

 of the leading-net, which is held open by a large hoop made of akatea vine, 

 and this is slipped behind the two posts at the mouth of the weir and held 

 in position by them, and all is ready. (See fig. 3.) 



The post inserted away from the end of the fence in order to hold the 

 poha in many cases had its upper part carved into the form of a human 

 head. The last such seen in this district was in a weir on the Matahiwi 

 Rapid of the Whanganui River in 1878. 



Quantities of manuka branches are pegged down between the fences and 

 the shore until the whole creek is forced into the newly made channel. The 

 first night the hinaki were set after the completion of the Moumahaki 

 pa-tuna twelve eels were taken ; a few nights later forty was about the 

 average, except when the moon was bright (the eels apparently do not travel 

 on a moonlight night), until the first fresh took place, when the numbers 



