156 Hcnuaiian Nets and Netting. 



tanned, tlie process merely- requiring the steeping of the net and fresh bark of the 

 knkiii {Alcni-ites triloba) in water for several days. 



Fish nets are freqnentl}' composed of two or more pieces of netting run togethei 

 with a cord. Five methods of making this joining were noticed, the simplest being with 

 a cord, called aea^ drawn through the meshes of the two edges in turn. The second was 

 by placing the meshes of the two edges exadlly opposite and with a single cord t3'ing 

 them together in order, using a single knot. The third was to laj- the edges together 

 with the meshes alternating and then running the cord from one side to the other with 

 a single knot at ever}' mesh; this at first glance has the appearance of continuous net- 

 ting. The fourth method of joining was to net on one edge and run the shuttle in 

 turn through the loops of the other edge. The fifth was by joining the two edges by the 

 usual form of netting. A number of the smaller nets, particularl}- those of small 

 meshes seem to have been cut down or made of pieces taken from larger nets ; in such 

 cases the netted knot forming the edge seems to have stood the usual wear and tear. 

 When a net has been torn or broken, more generalh' with the fine meshed nets, 

 the mending was sometimes effected with an aea, or a piece was cut from an old net, 

 laid over the hole and sewed on bv the same method. Large nets are sometimes 

 fastened together bj' a rope called kukai. 



The name alihi was applied to the head and foot ropes, the full names being 

 respec^tivel}- alihi pikoi and alihi pohak/i, or more recently alihi kepau. The pikoi 

 was a float of wood, hau preferably, but failing that, kukui. Wiliwili {Eiytkrina 

 mo)iospern/a), the lightest wood in the islands, was not considered sufficiently durable. 

 In recent times two other woods have become available for the pikoi, and since their 

 introdu6lion oleander {Neriiim oleander) and the castor oil tree {Riciniis con/nnniis) 

 have been added to the list. The shape of the pikoi varied. In some, a large branch 

 was cut into seAions and the pieces sjjlit, and from these the pikoi was made (a block 

 about 4 inches long, 3 inches wide and i inch thick). It was fastened throiigh holes 

 drilled in its side to the alihi. Another form was a section of a branch about 4 inches long, 

 and 2.7 inches in diameter, which was pieced on the side and so attached. The heart 

 wood in the kinds used was soft, and could be easily removed to allow the pikoi strung 

 on the alihi, but it is uncertain if this kind of pikoi was of ancient use. Sinkers of 

 pohaku (stone) and kepau (lead) were shaped to suit. Sticks used to support or dis- 

 tend a net were called k/ikii, and when curved or bent were also called kaka. To make 

 the necessary length for the kuku or kaka two or more sticks were fastened together by 

 overlapping and binding the ends. In referring to the nets b^- their native names, it 

 should be mentioned that one form of fish net is occasionally used for various kinds of 

 fishing and has a different name in each, and that the same name is sometimes applied 

 to different nets in various parts of the islands. 



