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Samoan Material Culture

Technique

Technique

To commence a net is alu and the mesh is mata'upenga, or mata for short. To lafo is also to make a net. The netting needle is loaded and the required page 471mesh gage selected. One end of the cord is wound around the gage twice and tied with a reef knot. The cord is unwound and the knotted loop forms the first mesh. Meshes are thus twice the size of the mesh gage. The short end of the cord beyond the reef knot is left long enough to tie to the first mesh to form a long loop to place over the big toe to steady the commencement. (See figure 272.)

Figure 272.—Netting technique:

Figure 272.—Netting technique:

a, the first mesh loop (1) is tied by the reef knot (2), the short end of the cord (3) is tied to the mesh loop (1) at 4 to form the toe loop (5) while the other end of the cord (6) is the part that is wound around the needle; b, with the reef knot (2) to the left, the cord (6) is pulled downwards and the mesh gage (7) placed over it in such a position that the lower end of the first mesh (1) rests on its upper border. The cord is doubled up over the lower edge of the gage and the needle carrying it is passed through the first mesh (1). The slack of the cord is flicked to the right to form a loose loop (9) large enough to allow the needle to pass through it later. The needle is then carried over both limbs of the first mesh (1) to the left, then back to the right under them and up through the right loop (9). The left hand holds the gage and the left thumb holds the crossing (8) against the edge of the gage so as to fix the size of the mesh. The right hand works the needle which, after passing through the right loop (9), is drawn taut so as to tie the netting knot at the lower end (8) of the first mesh (1). In this manner, the second mesh is formed by using the true meshing knot. Note that the gage gives the dimensions of the lower half of the mesh while of the upper half, the limb on the left is formed by the cord descending to the upper gage edge while the right limb is formed by the previous mesh. The gage is always placed over the descending cord so that the descending cord passes through the mesh from before backwards and the loop with the slack is always flicked out to the right. Netting consists of a repetition of this simple technique. c, The third mesh is added in a similar way but as the left hand holds the gage and the last netting knot is to the right, it is easier to twist the last knot (8) over to the left. The gage is then placed over the descending cord with its upper edge resting against the lower end of the last mesh (2). The cord is drawn upwards as before and the needle passed through the second mesh (2) and the knot tied in the way described to form the next mesh (3). d, The meshes are added, always keeping or twisting the last knot made to the left and then adjusting the gage. The meshes appear as in the figure and the adding of meshes is continued until the depth of the net is secured. The cord (1) instead of being tied to the last mesh (10) is left as it is for the next stage.

Good netting depends on the evenness of the meshes. After the needle is passed through the mesh above, the cord is pulled or slackened until the crossing is in the right place on the gage, when it is fixed by the left thumb while the netting knot is made.

page 472

The depth obtained forms one end of the net and is referred to as its lautele. The lautele of various nets is distinguished by the number of meshes. The length or 'umi is obtained by adding successive rows of the same number of meshes to the end which has been set up. The method of forming the commencement strip of netting has resulted in two rows of meshes. Meshes are really quadrilateral figures with equal sides. Owing to the nature of the material, if they are pulled in one direction, they lengthen in that diameter and narrow in the other. In making the net, the pull is at right angles to the gage and the long diameter of the mesh is naturally in the same direction. To lengthen the net, the commencement strip instead of being longitudinal to, the netter is placed transversely before him. The pull now comes on the other diameter but, the meshes having equal sides, it makes no difference to the technique and the placing of the gage. (See figure 273.)

Figure 273.—Netting technique and additional meshes:

Figure 273.—Netting technique and additional meshes:

a and b, increasing length; c and d, additional meshes. a, The net strip from the position in figure 272 d is now laid transversely with the cord on the left and the pull being changed the appearance is as shown. The gage is placed over the cord (1) and the first mesh made by engaging with the mesh (9). The first mesh formed has a free margin formed by the cord descending to the upper edge of the gage and passing behind it. b, When the first mesh of the new row is tied, it is not now necessary to remove the gage from it. The gage is simply pushed along under the next completed mesh above. From now on, it will be noted that the last knot tied is on the upper edge of the gage. The cord (1) is simply passed behind the gage brought up over the lower edge, the needle passed through the next mesh (3) and the usual knot made. Thus after the first marginal mesh of the new row, each mesh is formed by the sides of the meshes above while the cord simply adds the lower half of the mesh. The same number of meshes are made as in the row above. The netting is then twisted over to bring the cord back to the left and another row commenced. The successive rows are added until the length required is finished. See Plate XLV, A, 3. c, Instead of carrying the cord (1) from the last knot (2) to the next mesh loop (3), the needle is passed through the loop above (4). The cord is brought down to the mesh gage and tied to the ascending cord with the usual netting knot as shown. d, The needle is now passed through the next mesh (3) and the netting knot tied. Thus between the knots (2) and (3) there are two meshes instead of one.

In bag nets, any narrowing may be obtained by dropping meshes in the various rows or by using smaller gages. Extra meshes, however, were seen in a hand scoop net at Tau. These were the meshes said to be derived from the net of the Sasaumani, an early fishing community who were on Tau when Tangaloa-ui grew to man's estate. The knotting of the extra mesh is seen in figure 273 c, d.

The Tau people called the mesh mata 'upenga a Sasaumani. The Tutuilan page 473and Savaiian people did not know it. In fact a Savaiian expert thought it was Chinese. As, however, the same mesh is used in New Zealand, it is probably old.

Cords and ropes. Most small nets have a cord running through the marginal meshes by which the net may be attached to wooden frames or handles. The cord may be twisted cord or sennit braid. In long nets of the seine type, there is an upper and lower rope usually run through the marginal meshes. The upper rope, because it supports the wooden floats (uto), is termed 'afauto or u'a o le uto. The lower rope is the 'afavae ('afa, rope; vae, foot) or fauvae. To thread in the ropes through the meshes is timata. The lower rope may or may not have sinkers attached.

Floats. Casting nets, short nets set across channels and around rocks, and the long seine nets have floats (uto) attached to the top line. The floats usually consist of tou, fau, or other light wood. The floats are attached directly by the top rope, which is tied around them at intervals as it is threaded through the meshes. Floats are of two kinds; small peg floats and large floats.

1.Peg floats. Short lengths of about 3.5 inches in length of a light wood about 0.4 inches in diameter are tied to the upper rope with the knot shown in figure 274.
Figure 274.—Lashing of net floats:

Figure 274.—Lashing of net floats:

a, at the required distance from the left end, a float (1) is laid transversely over the top rope (2). A marginal mesh is drawn in under the float so that its cord rests between the float and the rope to be included in the knot. A loop (3) is formed with the rope and brought over the right end of the float into the middle line. b, The near end (4) of the loop is drawn taut against the float and passed upwards in the middle line to the left (5)of the standing rope (2) and the slack of the loop passed under the standing rope to the right (6). c, The loop (6) from the last figure is again brought over the right end of the float. In doing so it crosses the first turn made and the near part of the rope (2') beneath the float. The near end of the loop (6) is pulled downwards a little to remove excessive slack at the back. d, The loop (6) is carried upwards, close to the first turn and on its right. The left thumb is placed over it near the upper edge (8) to keep the turn in position, and the slack (7) is above the thumb. e, The near end of the rope (2') is pulled to remove the slack (7) in the last figure and the knot is complete. f, The view of the knot from below is shown opened out slightly.

2.Large floats. The larger floats are made of sections of larger branches which, being thicker, are naturally cut shorter than the long, slender peg floats. An average large float is about 3 inches long and 3 inches in diameter. A groove is cut around the middle transversely to give a grip for the rope. The rope may be threaded through the marginal meshes so long as the end page 474is not fixed, loops can be pulled up sufficiently large to tie the knot used with the peg floats.

Sinkers. Sinkers (maene) are used with the smaller nets, as stated above. In large nets, the weight of material against a rocky, uneven bottom would be a hindrance, let alone the nuisance of transporting the weight of clumsy material. Seine nets are not drawn in the way they are in other parts with a smooth sandy or muddy bottom. The large nets are usually set in position and for this purpose, it is easier to pick large stones from the bottom of the lagoon and place them on the bottom rope or just over it onto the meshes of the net. In a moving net, stone sinkers would catch against rocks and in clefts and seriously retard progress. It is easier in communal fishing for the numerous assistants to push the lower rope along the bottom with their feet in the method known as tolovae. When the rope catches on a rock, the men simply submerge and lift it over the obstruction, at the same time driving fish before them.

The sinkers used with lighter nets consist of two kinds: stones and shells.

1.Stone sinkers. Waterworn stones of round or oval form are used. They are attached separately to the bottom rope by separate pieces of cord. The two-ply twisted sennit cord is often used for this purpose. A short piece is first tied around the middle of the stone with the float knot described above and the ends then tied around the rope. These are spaced along the bottom. Though lead is superseding stone, it is surprising how much stone is still used. (See Plate XLI, A, 2.)
2.Shells (pule). Shells of the pule (Cypraea) kind are used with some nets. The closed rounded ends of the shells are cracked off so that the interior becomes patent. Cords can thus be passed through the long natural slit opening on the other side. For the method of direct fastening to the lower line see page 480. (See Plate XLVI, A.)