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Samoan Material Culture

Snares

Snares

Snares and nooses, which come under the term sele, are used to catch the sea centipede, fresh-water crayfish, and sea eel. A more elaborate rope noose is used as the orthodox method for catching shark.

Sea centipede snare (sele valo). The sea centipede (valo) is caught at Nuuuli, Tutuila, in a noose made with a strip of alava, the outer skin from the butt end of a coconut leaf. The sea centipede lives in holes in the beach which are burrowed out with a vertical entrance and then run horizontally under the surface. A hole is located and a long strip of flexible alava thrust down into it and worked along the burrow to indicate its direction. The sea centipede is page 421driven out as described in figure 253 a. As soon as its body is partly out of the hole, the man with the snare draws the two ends apart and thus catches the sea centipede in the knot.

Skipjack snare (sele malauli). At Asau in Savaii, where the four-ply round sennit braid was procured, a curious use for the braid obtained. Heaps of the branched coral were made to form a refuge for the small penu penu fish and thus attract the large fish called malauli by the Samoans and skipjack by the whites. (See figure 253 b.) The fishermen beat the sides of the canoes with their bailers and in this way, it is said, draw the malauli to the heaps of coral, where they pass into the crevices in search of the smaller penu penu.

Figure 253.—Snares (sele):

Figure 253.—Snares (sele):

a, sea centipede (Squilla). A piece of alava is formed into in open overhand or Staffordshire knot (1) adjusted to the size of hole (2) to rest around its circumference, while the two ends are held by the waiting fisherman. His assistant drives a pointed stake (3) down into the burrow on the line already indicated. As the beach is wet, the striking of the burrow is indicated by bubbles rising up. The assistant works his stick by succeeding thrusts along the course of the burrow until he succeeds in driving the sea centipede out through the entrance. b, The malauli fish. The fisherman forms a large loop with a length of four-ply braid (fili anufe) by passing one end around the tunning part and tying it around itself with an overhand knot (1). It is also advisable to tie another overhand knot on the end to act as a stopper knot and prevent the other knot from slipping off. The bottom of the loop is set near the coral heap and anchored down to the bottom with a couple of pieces of coral (2). c, Fresh-water crayfish. A strick fibre (mui'a'a) is picked out of the husk of a husked coconut, one end passed round the running end and tied to itself with an overhand knot (1) to provide an open loop through which the running part readily passes in opening out or closing the noose. The other end of the fibre is tied to a stick as a handle (2). The noose is lowered by the handle into the pool or stream and brought along behind the crayfish. It is gently worked along and insinuated under the tail. Once the tail is in the loop, the handle is drawn quickly up, and the crayfish thus caught by the tail. Much care is required not to startle the crayfish by any sudden movement. d, Sea eel. A wooden rod, 18 to 24 inches long, with a groove cut around one end is used as a handle. A cord of fau songa or sennit braid is tied around the groove and a short loop (1) is made by crossing on the far side of the fixed part. The cord forms a large loop (2) and again crosses the fixed part on the far side close to the handle and below the smaller loop (1). e, The short loop (1), kept to the far side of the large loop (2) is looped over the end of the stick to form a half hitch which is drawn taut by pulling the large loop at (3). The large loop (2) runs easily between the first tie and the half hitch and forms the snare. The bait stuck (4) is formed of a thin piece of bamboo, about 2 feet long, split at one end into our segments between which the tail end of a small fish is stuck and the segments lashed around it with husk fibre or fau bast.

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One hand may assist in keeping the loop open while the right holds the end near the small loop. The malauli swim about freely and brush against the men. When one passes into the loop, it is drawn taut. Holding the end and keeping the line taut, the fisherman jumps into his canoe and plays the fish. It was looked upon as great sport to let the fish tow the canoe. When tired, the fish was hauled into the canoe. The snaring of malauli thus partook of the nature of a game as well as adding to the food supplies.

Crayfish snare (sele ula). The fresh-water crayfish (ula vai) frequents pools in the various streams and is excellent eating. The snaring method is much used by boys and even adults as a makeshift method readily available. (See figure 253 c.)

Sea eel snare (sele pusi). Sea eels (Muraena), called pusi, are usually caught in a set trap but they are also caught inside the lagoon with a snare set on a wooden handle, while a separate bait is used in conjunction with it. (See figure 253 d, e.)

When a sea eel is located amongst the rocks in pools inside the reef, the noose is adjusted to suit the size of the fish. It must be larger than the fish, but not too large. The free end of the cord is then twisted around the fingers of the right hand; the handle with the noose is held in the left. Owing to the stiffness of the cord, the noose is easily adjusted to stand open at right angles to the stick. The bait stick, held in the right hand, is advanced through the loop to attract the eel. As the eel follows it up, the bait is withdrawn through the loop. The fish naturally follows and as soon as its head has passed through the loop, the cord is drawn taut by the right hand and the eel secured against the stick handle. (See Plate XLI, A, 1.)