Seine Net, aharoa.

The ahoroa, from aho, a line, and roa, long, is a true seine net. The technique of the net has been described.

Ropes called karihi are threaded through the marginal meshes at the upper and lower edges.

Floats, uto or pouto, are attached to the upper rope by a separate continuous cord. They are made from branches of the puka tree, cut off in suitable lengths. These have a pith canal, which is cleared to admit the cord. The page 295cord is tied to the rope, passed through the float, and tied to the rope with a clove hitch. From here it is run along for a little distance, tied again with a clove hitch, and again threaded through a float, Fig. 256. In this way the floats are attached along the length of the top rope.

Figure 256.
Attachment of floats, seine net.

The sinkers, hara pohatu, are selected from the dark stone known as pohatu maori. The stone is wrapped in the fabric-like material from the base of the cocoanut leaf, kaka, and attached to the lower rope by separate pieces of cord.

The cord is first tied round one end of the folded kaka, then over the middle, with the stone, and lastly over the other end, Fig. 257. Sacking has taken the place of the kaka, but stone is still used.

Figure 257.
Attachment of sinker, seine net.

The net is made with the same mesh throughout, and no poles are used at the ends.

The principle in using the seine net in the Aitutaki lagoon is to enclose a shoal of fish. It is rarely drawn up on the beach. In a demonstration by the Amuri folk the net was carried in a row boat, with another and a fleet of canoes in attendance, Fig. 258. When a shoal is seen the net is quickly paid out between the two row boats to form a wide curve. The canoes complete the circle round the fish and drive them towards the net. When within the curve the boats pull round, so as to enclose the fish within the net. Men armed with fish spears follow behind the net to lift it over any rocks that may entangle the bottom rope. The fish are now yarded within the circle of the net, and are speared or scooped up with hopai and ngake nets. With a good catch, the splashing, shouting, and spearing causes page 296

Figure 258.
Drawing a seine net.

great excitement and fun. Shark and sting-ray are often caught.

A large seine net costs a good deal for cord alone. The village community generally subscribes for the material, and the fish caught are distributed amongst the share-holders.

Ruatapu and the nets. Ruatapu, the ancestor already alluded to as being shared by the Maori, figures in a story concerning the tuturua and ahoroa nets. The incident was acted as a drama by the people of Amuri. Ruatapu and his son, Kirikava, had an argument as to which type of net they should make. Ruatapu decided in favour of the more quickly made tuturua, but Kirikava wanted an ahoroa. They parted in high dudgeon, each to make his own choice. Ruatapu finished his and caught fish whilst his son was still making his seine net. Kirikava asked for a share of fish, but his father told him to go and catch fish with his own net. On Kirikava. completing his net, he caught large fish, such as the urua, shark, and turtle. He in turn refused his father's request for a share, saying, "Go and eat your small manini, whilst I eat my large urna." This act of filial disrespect angered Ruatapu. He left the district to his son and moved on to Kakeu-te-rangi.

The invention of the two nets is attributed to Ruatapu and his son. This is in accordance with the Aitutaki attitude page 297of crediting the invention or introduction of an article to the first ancestor with whom it is mentioned in traditional history. Though the netting knot is old, it is quite possible that Ruatapu introduced the two types of net into Aitutaki.

The turtle net, kupenga tupapa honu. Associated with the seine net is the net for catching turtle. It was made of sinnet, and was from 6 to 8 feet deep. There were no floats or sinkers, but men kept it spread out by resting the feet on the lower rope and pushing up the upper rope with the hands. The net was thus set in the lagoon, and canoes drove the turtle into it.

The meshes were large. The turtle got its head through the mesh, and remained caught by the shell. They were caught near the main shore beach, or near the islands in the lagoon.

At night the net was carried out into the water on the shoulders of men who walked in single file. When the leader struck a rock, he simply called back the height of the rock as a warning to those following. The idiomatic phrases used were:—

• E tupe, or tupe raro = Up to one foot high.
• Tupe turi = As high as the knees.
• Tupe runga = As high as the waist.