NEW GUINEA MORTLOCK ISLAND WOODEN SHARK FISH HOOK
Takuu Mortlock or Marqueen IslandsThese large fishing hooks were collected in New Guinea post WW11, and originate from Mortlock Island, 150 miles off the coast of Bougainville Solomon Islands. Commonly known as a shark hook, but it is actually used to catch Ruvettus, a species that lives in the deep water outside the reef where the villagers fish on dark nights. The hook is composite construction made from hardwood and fastened with superb over woven designs of coconut fibre, and measures 32cm with a 15cm barb. The shank made from 2 pieces of wood measures 70cm, with 15 cm of cord for main line attachment.
Complete & in fine as collected condition.
$600 each.
Fish Hooks of this type are occasionally attributed, either by trade or mislabeling, to the Tuvalu Ellice Island group & also the Mortlock Island group in Micronesia (also known as the Nomoi islands) are comprised of a series of atolls and islands stretching away to the South East of Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon. They are made up of the Upper Mortlocks, the Mid Mortlocks and the Lower Mortlocks. The Islands include Nama, Losap, Piis, Etal, Namoluk, Kutu, Moch, Lukunor, Oneop, Satawan and Ta. The inhabited islands are populated by 5,000+ Mortlockese and their language is also called Mortlockese.
The Mortlock Islands Papua New Guinea group (often appear on maps as Tau or Tauu or Takuu group) are almost due South of the Micronesia group (whereas the Micronesia group are a few hundred miles north of the Equator the Papua New Guinea group are a similar distance to the South of it). This group seems to consist of a single atoll with about fourteen islands on it's East side and a single island 'Nukerekia' on the North West side. Takuu Island is the Southernmost and largest of the Eastern group, although it would seem that most of the population of about 500 live on the nearby tiny island Nukutoa.
