Aviti (Bonito fishing lure)

Aviti. Bonito fishing lure. This 'aviti is constructed with a light yellow parau (pearl shell) shank and dark parau point with taura tuaina (twine cord) securing the point to the shank. The shank is cut into a somewhat rectangular shape along three sides and polished to maximum glossy sheen from the central thicker section of parau including the hinge. The hinge has a perforation through which tuaina is secured along the length and attaches to the parau point lashed at the thinner end of the shank with twine. Shaggy frayed tuaina gathered at the back of the point may be intended as a hackle. The 'aviti has a long, loose length of natural-coloured taura tuaina attached for suspension as as fishing line.