Downes. — Eels and Eel-weirs. 305 



in the Manga-whero. The usual procedure was to probe among the water- 

 weeds and roots along the banks of a creek, lake, or swamp, and when an 

 eel was struck this was easily ascertained by the vibrating feel. The hand 

 and arm were next put down in the water, so that the eel was held to the 

 prongs while it was being lifted. 



About the year 1880, when visiting the Kai-kokopu Lake, a large lagoon 

 in the Lower Rangitikei district reserved to the natives for eel-fishing, 1 

 saw some natives of the Ngati-Apa Tribe empty some small eels from a 

 hinaki into a fire they lit at the edge of the lake, from which the scorched 

 fish were allowed to crawl back into the water. On inquiring the reason 

 I was told it was an old custom, called tunutunu-ki-te-ahi (roasting at the 

 fire), and was supposed to make the eels that escaped large and fat. 



In many low swampy districts near the sea there are extensive sand- 

 flats, and it was formerly a common practice for the natives to make a 

 cut or drain from the lagoons or swamps near by to well out on the sand- 

 flats. After heavy rain causing the swamp waters to rise a few inches the 

 eels endeavoured to get out along the cuts, and were soon left struggling 

 on the sand. I have seen upwards of 1 cwt. of fish so -gathered (one New 

 Year's Day) on the large sand-flat north of the Rangitikei River mouth. 

 In the Whanganui deed of purchase similar eel-cuts from the Kaitokc 

 Wiritoa, and other local lakes are mentioned as native reserves. 



Yet another method is occasionally adopted in taking the tuna, and was 

 practised on the Okorewa, down which tons of eels annually migrate from 

 the Wairarapa Lake. If a man has no hinaki, or if the pa-tuna are con- 

 structed too close for him to get another in, a shallow drain is dug from 

 the river across the sand, terminating in a large hole. He watches the 

 eels swim past till he considers he has enough in the hole, blocking with 

 a stick any that seek to return. Then the drain, and later the hole, is 

 filled with sand, quickly smothering the imprisoned fish. Such a place is 

 called awa-one-huna. 



The following is a list of the west-coast (North Island) eels given by an 

 old bedridden Waitotara man named Patonga :— 

 Tuna- pa. 



Tuna-riri (sometimes called tuna- put aiore). 

 Tuna-taiaka. Described as an eel with a fine head and hard skin, 



that will not boil tender. 

 Tuna-kaingara. Tuna-tangaroa. 



Tuna-ngahuru. Tuna-tuhoro. 



Tuna-hau. Tuna-puharakckc. 



Tuna-opuha. Tuna-kaueri. 



Tuna-ruahi ne. Tuna-am yarn. 



Tuna-koptire. Tuna-riki. 



T una-paranui . Tuna-monanui, 



Tuna-keke. Tuna-kuia. 



Tuna-koha u. Tuna-iahaaka. 



As a rule, the prefixed generic term tuna is not employed. In regard to 

 the opuha and iakaaka it is possible that a missing h should be inserted. 



The following are the names of eels as supplied to Mr. Percy Smith by 

 Aporo te Kumeroa, the late well-known chief of Wairarapa, and are all 

 said to be found in the Wairarapa Lake or the rivers flowing into it :— 

 Matamoe (also called hikumutu). 



Hao (also called puhi). This eel has blue eyes, and is the best 

 eating of all. 



