סכך cannot be made of a דבר המקבל טומאה, there is a company that make a reed mat that is held together (מעמד) with fishing line and it comes with instructions to put some wood on top of it so that it will be held down even without it. The reason being that since fishing line is מקבל טומאה we don't want it to be מעמד the סכך, hence the question is fishing line really מקבל טומאה? why?
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So Star-K brings a good breakdown based on a psak of Rav Moshe Heineman:
In Hilchos Sukkah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 629:1) it is written that schach can not consist of something that is “mekabel tumah” (something that has the ability to become ritually impure). It is for this reason that bamboo carpet mats cannot be used for schach as they are mekabel tumah. All Star-K certified schach is not made to sit or walk on and is therefore not mekabel tumah.
In addition, l’chatchila, kosher schach may not be supported by anything which is mekabel tumah (see Rama O.C. 629:7). According to the opinion of Rashi (as brought in Shaar Hatziyun 629:20) spun or woven threads (e.g. string, yarn) are mekabel tumah. Rav Moshe Feinstein states (Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:177) based on a Mishna, if something which is mekabel tumah is used to hold wooden slats together, the slats themselves are also mekabel tumah and are no longer kosher for schach use. Therefore, Rav Moshe Feinstein explains that wooden venetian blinds held together with cloth tape or string are not kosher for schach. It follows that according to Rashi bamboo slats held together by multi-filament cord (i.e. it is braided or twisted) are also not kosher for schach (even if they are not made to sit or walk on).
However, monofilament (commonly used for fishing line) is not woven or spun material. Therefore, it is not mekabel tumah and may be used to hold bamboo slats together. All Star-K certified bamboo schach is held together with monofilament cord.
So based on this, it would only be an issue if the string is woven or spun which would make it mekabel tumah. If it isn't it would be allowed to hold the slats together.
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so the instructions are wrong? it is star-k schach that comes with this instructions...– yih613Commented Sep 20, 2021 at 16:24
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Ooh that's awkward! I would call them for clarity and ask them based on the posting on their website. It seems pretty definitive there?– DovCommented Sep 20, 2021 at 16:26
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The citation you link to for the Shaarei Tzion, in the body text, only excludes cordage made from cotton. That made from dried reeds or bulrush, like modern day sisal twine are permitted. This is related to the level of processing for the finished cordage. Cotton cordage is like a finished, highly refined tool. Sisal, which is less processed, is like twigs pulled from the ground and is thus not considered capable of receiving tumah. Commented Sep 20, 2021 at 17:13
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For additional clarification, סיב, which is also permitted as cordage for Skach is made from the bast of palm. This linked video demonstrates what is being described in Shulchan Aruch. youtu.be/gELlns9IO1U Commented Sep 20, 2021 at 17:23
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One further clarification for those who might not understand why cotton cordage is different relates to how cotton cordage is manufactured. The following 3 videos demonstrate the complex, multi-stage process involved in producing cotton cordage from cotton boll picked from the plant, to bale, to yarn, and then finally to cordage (including rope). Step 1) youtu.be/QHgNoSYlhYs Commented Sep 20, 2021 at 17:48