142 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



A roukakahi thus richly carved, with its attendant imple- 

 ments, was a work of toil and care and art. In bygone times 

 it was highly prized, and was the property of a rangatira. When 

 out of use it was hung up carefully high in the whare, where 

 smoke and soot have given this one its rich deep-black colour. 

 Nets wore out quicker than the dredges, but these were easily 

 replaced : one dredge would serve for whole generations of nets. 



Description of Dredge. 

 Every dredge consisted of a long pole, the dredge proper, 

 a net, and sinker or sinkers to complete the outfit. Any 

 rough-cut pole out of the bush was used : this was not carved. 

 Dredges were usually made out of manuka, and of two pieces of 

 wood. They were never carved out of a solid block of wood. 

 In shape each dredge was an isosceles triangle — a long base 

 and two short sides. My ancient black one is 36 in. over all 

 at the base, and the space between the sides at the base is 

 2 ( J in. ; from base to apex is 15 in. The other dredge, with 

 net attached, and uncarved, is 41 in. at the base, and inside 

 is 33 in. : distance from base to apex, 11 in. At each of 

 the basal angles the timber of the sides was thick and wide, 

 but the sides tapered off to a blunt point. These sides never 

 met at the apex : they were cut 1 in. or 1| in. apart there, 

 and their ends bored with two holes each. These holes were 

 tied together with many folds of strong flax twine bridging 

 the gap. To these collected strands of tough twine the end of 

 the pole was tied, and thus a sort of hinge was made and freer 

 play was allowed between the pole and dredge. Along the base 

 was studded a row of teeth. These teeth consisted of rounded 

 black hard pegs, each about 6 in. long. They were most tightly 

 bound to the base, and pointed forward, but not in the same 

 plane as the dredge, but at such an angle as would dip slightly 

 into the mud and rake up the shells into the net. In one the 

 teeth are twentv-four in number. Starting from the left-hand 

 corner there are eight teeth : then comes down the upright 

 beam, then eight more teeth; the upright beam again, and eight 

 more in the third space. These pegs were tied in the strongest 

 possible manner to t lie base bv Max and ot her harder plants. The 

 dredge, its timbers all blackened by lake mud and whare smoke, 

 with its beautiful carvings, thus makes a most charming speci- 

 men of ancient Muni art. 



How i in; Dredge is strengthened. 



On reference t<> the photographs it will be seen that the 



dredge is greatly strengthened by two beams extending at righl 



angles from the base to the sides. The long base was strengthened 



by these beams. The base between the angles was divided into 



