It looked like a short cat-o'-nine-tails. A piece of wood functioned as the handle. Attached to it were 20 or so strings on whose ends were tied marble-sized stones. It was thrown at birds and small animals, momentarily stunning them and tangling around their feet or wings, rendering them incapable of escape. It sounded promising; now if it only worked!
The Inuit made such bolas for taking small game and birds; though they seldom exceeded twelve weights (sometimes carved from ivory). According to several books I've read bolas work surprisingly well for hunting geese, ducks, and swans.
