The cout-la is a traditional Telian fishing spear, which is thrown by hand by both male and female Telians. Relatively long for a fishing spear, it is quite thin in diameter with much of the weight concentrated at the head of the spear. It is this weight distribution and the high density of the illan-ta used in its construction that lends the spear most of its effectiveness. Of course, the overall skill of the user is a major determining factor in the effectiveness of this tool, as is the case in many situations.