Photo credit: New Zealand Museum (A permission has been granted to use this picture on this site)
This conical trap which has been known as “Inak” has a flat bottom and a narrow opening at the top. The trap is woven from the long thin coconut roots or the aerial roots of Freycinetia. The trap base is cross strengthened by two wooden strips. The construction of the trap allows easy removal of trapped fish. Usually, such traps are baited with small fish in order to effectively attract target fish especially eels and other larger fish species.
Such traps may have different shapes and sizes. According to the museum records, this particular trap dates back to 1907 and was made in Cook Islands with overall dimensions of 45 cm height and 69 cm diameter.
