I was taking a pleasant stroll down the center of one of the small northern islands of Majuro, when I saw this beautiful fish trap leaning against a tree. The trap is sturdy, about four feet in height, and has been repaired numerous times. What a beautiful object it is.
According to Marshallese Manit: The u (or wu) was a fish trap that is submerged in 15-30 feet of water and left for at least 5 days. The trap is made of twigs of kōñe (ironwood tree) and bob (pandanus) aerial roots, bent like hoops and lashed together with ekkwal (coconut sennit rope). There was a round entrance in the middle of the front wall that allowed fish to swim into the basket. To keep the fish from escaping a funnel of rings and sticks gradually close in from the entrance. A small side door is used to remove the fish. Fish caught with this technique range from mone (unicorn fish) to kuru (grouper).
fish trap, early 1900s
A Marshallese individual inspects the haul within his woven fish trap. Photo courtesy Micronesian Seminar.
Marshallese Culture
Read more stories about the history and culture of the Marshall Islands … with many being relevant today.
