Figure 269.—Lashing of sea eel trap (fanga pusi).

The type specimen figured is 22 inches long, 13 inches wide and about 5 inches deep. The wooden rods forming it vary from 0.3 inches in diameter at the ends to 0.5 inches at the sides and bottom. The bottom is formed of 22 rods each 20 inches long. There are four crossbars 14 inches long, one at each end and two intermediates evenly spaced. The crossbars are laid across the longitudinal rods, which in position total 10.5 inches in width, and are arranged to project evenly on either side beyond the edges of the longitudinal rods. The bars are tied to the rods in pairs with two half hitches passing diagonally round the crossing of the rod pair with the crossbar. a, The cross bar (1) is shown tied to two pairs of longitudinal rods (2, 3, and 4, 5). One end of the braid has been fixed to the end of the bar and after one pair of rods is lashed, the braid goes on to the next pair. b, The braid (1) descends on the middle line of the crossbar and turning to the left far corner (2) makes a diagonal turn around the back of the two rods, reappearing of necessity, at the right near corner (3). It forms the first diagonal half hitch by passing over and then under the first loop at (4). c, The second diagonal half hitch must take in the remaining two corners. The braid therefore passes around the left near corner (5) passes obliquely around the two rods and appears at the right far corner (6). From here it crosses the middle to pass through its own loop at (7) and thus form the second half hitch. From here it passes on to deal with the next two rods in the same way and so continues until all the rods are lashed to the crossbars. d, Sometimes a third half hitch is taken around the two rods before passing on. This makes two half hitches in one direction. After forming the second half hitch in the last figure, the braid, instead of passing on, makes a half hitch in the opposite diagonal to the last made. The braid, therefore, turns from the last hitch at (7) to the left far corner (2). From there it passes diagonally over the back of the rods to appear at right near corner (3). From here it of necessity passes over the other turns to pass under its own loop at (8) to complete the third half hitch. The three hitches are used where extra strength is required.