(2.) Kupenga (Nets).

Nets were used for inanga and kokopu, but toitoi were also caught in them. The same kind of net did for all. My notes are somewhat meagre, as these old flax nets have long since passed out of date, and no sample survives to enable a more minute description being given. The nets were several chains long, and some are reported to have taken as long as three years to complete. They were made in parts, different parts being often allocated to various subtribes. When these parts or sections were completed they were assembled and joined together.

The most important section was named the konae. This formed the middle section of the net, and when the ends were hauled in it formed the belly, which held the fish. It was the first section to be made, and was started by two or three skilled men. They worked on through the night and never slept on their work. In the dark the width of the mesh was measured by the finger-nail. Blind men have been skilled konae weavers. After some progress had been made, others joined in and the work went on quickly. My informants stated that an unskilled man could not get a strip of flax in, as the net was constantly moving.

On either side of the konae there was a section called the whakahihi. This had a coarser mesh, and served to drive the fish back into the konae. Anaha, the famous old carver at Rotorua, who was alive when these notes were taken, gave different divisions to the nets. He maintained that the sections next to the konae on either side were the upoko roto, then came the whakahihi, and lastly the matatu. Probably this applied to the very large nets, which would thus be made in seven sections The number of sections led to the following classification :—

The nets were, of course, furnished with poito, or floats, made from the whau (Entelea arborescens), and attached to the kaha runga, or toperope. The poito over the middle of the konae was of larger size, and was usually carved. In the large nets there were two additional carved poito, one on either side, situated at the junction of the whakahihi and the matatu. These carved poito often had names given to them. The central one was famous enough to pass into a saying—Te poito whakarewa i te kupenga (The float that lifts the net). Great chiefs were alluded to in these terms, for as the carved float of the konae lifts or supports the net, so the tattooed chieftain of old uplifted his tribe.

Karihi, or sinkers of stone, were attached to the kaha raro, or bottom line of the net. They were tied to the back of the line so as not to be worn by the sand.

The famous nets were named. Such a one was Tipiwhenua, which belonged to the Ngati-Pehi Hapu. It was 300 yards long without the end ropes. Another famous net was Te Whenuataua, belonging to Ngati-Tunohopu.

When the canoes came ashore with a good catch of inanga the womenfolk would be waiting with their baskets to obtain their share. In those