Te faga ika

human history

Te faga ika. Model eel trap. A faga ika is intended for catching pusi (eels) using small fish as bait. A faga ika is placed in the namo (lagoon) with heavy stones put into the internal cavity to weigh it down in the water. This faga ika is constructed using long wooden rods secured together with fine kolokolo (2-ply coconut sennit). It has a gabled roof with a suspension cord attached to it. There are five openings around the faga ika, which all have shutters, as well as the the main alatasi (main trap door) which is a cylindrical chute leading into the main internal cavity of the faga ika. There is one way in and no way out. The trap door opening in the gabled roof is termed the mataloa o poa.

The group that demonstrated at Auckland Museum included (leader) Vione Natano (Funafuti), Maselusi Mate (Funafuti), Lasela Manoa (Funafuti), Magalo Pili (Nanumea) and Tau Iuta (Vaitupu) on 22 Jan 2019.

Accession number: 1990.36 Last Update: 10 Sept 2026
Other Name

Model eel trap (English)

Place
Tuvalu
Accession Number

1990.36

Accession Date

31 Jan 1990

Other Id

53392 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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