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Story: Shellfish

Shellfish hook

Image
Shellfish hook

Māori fashioned fish hooks from Cook’s turban (Cookia sulcata), a common coastal sea snail, as its thick shell could be worked into a strong point or even an entire hook.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: ME023196

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Shellfish – Food and other uses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/8039/shellfish-hook (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.