Fish Spears

Fish spears were made of a hard wood, such as toa, pangi, asi, and 'o'a. The points were shaped and hardened in the fire. Three types were described but there may be others. The general name for spears is tao.

The one-point spear (tao mata tasi) was made in one piece. The handle was short so that the spear could be easily manipulated under water when used by men diving around the rocks and ma'a piles. It is now replaced by the short spear with an iron point.

The three-pointed spear (tao mata tolu) was a composite one, the points being made of any one of the hard woods mentioned above while the handle or shaft was of any light wood. The points were arranged with a spread and lashed to the shaft with sennit or twisted cord. This spear is better for thrusting or throwing at fish. Judd (17, p. 64) mentions seeing men swimming beyond the reef near Fitiuta and fishing with spears. Parts of the coast here are rocky, without channels, and hence unsuitable for launching canoes. The men therefore swim out armed with a spear and a basket. Only people page 439at home in the water could use such a method. The wooden points have been supplanted by iron.

The many-pointed spear (tao fuifui) gets its name from the cluster (fuifui) of points lashed to a handle (fuata). The points are ala'a hard wood but olosina may be used. (See Plate XLI, P.) The handle is of the soft fu'afu'a wood, but milo is preferable. The thick end of the handle is tapered clown and four pieces placed round the end. About five turns of sennit braid are taken round them and the other points gradually added to the handle in spiral fashion, the turns of the braid being continued round them. When 33 points have been added, the turns are continued down the handle for a short way and then fixed by passing the end back under three or four loose turns, as in the hafting of adzes.

The spear is used for throwing into the midst of a shoal, such as the young mullet (aua, but 'anae when they are full size).