This is a curious mask that was going around Venice in Carnival time.
Meaning can be something like: cautious tease.
The logic: "Kids are a pain in the neck and noisy. Making them tired restores the adults' quiet living".
With this purpose in mind the Pulcinella masks would tease kids offering them the "confetti", very desirable Italian sweets, using a fishing pole so they wouldn't easily grab them.
Confetti are very hard to reach - of course - thus achieving the purpose of making the kids tired.
Simple solutions are usually the best ones.
