Fishing methods Hunting and Fishing

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13.1.3 Fishing methods

Fishing in freshwater streams in the Rotokas area is restricted to crayfish and eels at upper elevations because of waterfalls blocking migration upstream. Below the village of Ruruvu, fish similar to Papuan bass can be found in the streams. As one gets closer to the coast, the fishing improves. On the coast, of course, there is an abundance of fish in the sea as well as shellfish on the reefs. The general name for fish is atari kare. Fish On the coast to the north of the language area, the people made use of the very sticky web of the kikiraeko spider. It has a large greenish yellow body with black head and legs. The web is large and sticky and purportedly able to hold small birds. The web, when rolled into a ball, can be used to catch small fish. Fish are speared with pronged-tipped spears or can be shot with arrows also with pronged tips. I have seen fish speared, but not shot, with bow and arrow. The spears are fitted with a cluster of bicycle spokes all filed to a point. These are about ten to twelve centimeters in length. Other than nets, fish hooks, and line bought in the tradestores, there is one other method of catching fish which has proved to be very dangerous, but effective. Still to be found from World War II days are unexploded bombs and hand grenades. These are taken apart for the gun powder contained within. The powder is put into a container with a fuse. The fuse is measured according to the distance the “fish bomb” must travel before exploding, either on the surface or under water. One young Rotokas man was quite proud of the accuracy he could attain with the fuses he used. In the mid-1970s, a young man blew his stomach apart and died making one of these fishing bombs. It is unfortunate, too, that this particular method has decimated the numbers of fish formerly found in the Rotokas streams and rivers. Crayfish The device used to net freshwater crayfish has already been described. They are also commonly “speared” using a rubber inner tube strap to propel the sharpened bicycle-spoke spear through the water. There are several types of crayfish to be found in the Rotokas streams, but one general name is used to cover them all, kavori kare. Three small varieties are poreo kare, oaraoto, and rusiva kare. The largest variety is called keetarao kare. Crab Crabs are also caught by hand or net and eaten. Smaller freshwater varieties are called ereku kare; large crabs, freshwater or salt water, are called okoe kare. These are general names, but more specific differentiations are also used. Watersnail Another common freshwater shellfish is the watersnail. These are collected and eaten as a regular part of the diet. They are called akoro kare. The shells are sometimes baked, pulverized, and used as lime powder with betel nut. Eel Finally, eels uo kare are a favorite form of meat. These animals are more commonly found in caves and near the base of the many waterfalls in the area. They may grow to over a meter in length and supply a good portion of meat. They are enjoyed partly because of the high oil tuga or “grease” content. Eels are usually speared, or when possible, caught by hand. They may also be caught on hooks which are set out just after a heavy rainfall when the streams are swollen.

13.1.4 Birdlife and insects