This is a curious mask that was going around Venice in Carnival time.
Meaning can be translated with 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, this Pulcinella masks would tease the kids offering them the "confetti" - very desirable Venetian 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.
