84 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Besides the netting-cord (commonly coir, the fiber of the cocoa- 

 nut husk, which is very durable in the water), the only tool used 

 is the mesh-block (E, Fig. 4). This is a thin block of hard wood 

 rasped into shape, and, since these tools are treasured as heir- 

 looms, together with interminably long rhythmical recitals of the 

 wonderful takes of fish made by nets fabricated on each block, 

 the wood most commonly employed is the very dense and hard 

 iron-wood {Casuarina equisetifolia). It is highly polished and 

 usually ornamented upon the ends with property marks, showing 

 the exogamous marriage class and gens of the owner, which here 

 take the place occupied by tribal distinctions among the endoga- 

 mous races. The blocks are commonly of uniform size. Their 

 length, which is practically a constant quantity, is determined by 

 the length (about five inches) which may be held between the 

 extreme tips of the fingers and the ball of the thumb, for that is 

 its position when in use and to secure it against slipping the 

 edges are carefully brought to a true right angle. The height of 

 the block is, of course, determined by the width of mesh desired, 

 but a height about equal to the breadth of the hand across the 

 palm is most frequent, since the mesh made upon that gauge is 

 found most satisfactory in taking the fish usually seined for. In 

 width the blocks seldom exceed a half-inch, and have an oval 

 section. Smaller hand-nets, in which accurate meshing is not de- 

 sired, are commonly knotted over the finger with much nicety. 



The net is started on pegs driven into a beam, corresponding 

 in number with the number of meshes in a tier which it is de- 

 sired to put into the net, and these netting -beams are a promi- 

 nent feature on every village green. At a distance from the end 

 of the cord somewhat greatei .than the proposed width of the net, 

 a bowline knot (A, Fig. 4) is turned in and cast upon the first peg 

 toward the right. The two unequal parts of cord issuing from 

 this knot may, for the sake of distinction, be denominated the 

 ball part and the free part. The latter is carried taut to the sec- 

 ond peg, and there stopped close to the beam by a light lashing, 

 and at the top of the peg is passed into an eye or narrow cleft. 

 The mesh-block is now laid against the row of pegs ; the ball i3art 

 is passed first below and then above it from the bowline knot to 

 the second peg, forming the first half-mesh (B, Fig> 4) ; it is then 

 cast over the second peg, and the free part of the cord attached 

 thereto with a pair of half -hitches (C and D, Fig. 1). The free 

 part is then withdrawn from the eye in the peg, drawn taut 

 through the two half-hitches, and half-hitched back upon itself 

 (E, Fig 1). It is now carried from the knot just formed (C, Fig. 

 4) to the next peg and there made ready for further use ; the ball 

 part is again carried around the mesh-block and hitched and 

 bound as before. Upon the last peg in the row this knot is made, 



