TWO SHELLS (CYPREA CARNELOA) WITH SMALL HOLES DRILLED FOR ATTACHING TO A LINE, USED AS LURES FOR SQUID. THERE WERE ORIGINALLY THREE, ONE (PEALE #873) IS MISSING, 1985. HAS ORIGINAL PEALE TAGS, 868 & 872. PREVIOUSLY CATALOGUED AS NECK ORNAMENTS. PIILANI, MINNIE AND WILLIAM KAAWALOA SAY "USED AS LURES FOR SQUID. [THIS] IS CALLED MAKAU HE'E, THE SHELL CALLED A LEHO." 1985. EXHIBITED MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1985-86.
FROM CARD: "INVENTORIED 1975. CYPREA CARNEOLA. PENDANT ORNAMENTS OF POLISHED SHELLS. L. 2 1/2". HEIGHT, 1 1/4"."
Peale catalogue identifies 868 and 872 as "Shells used as bait in catching cuttle fish by the Hawaiian Islanders."
