The next time you drop a line in the water off the side of a boat equipped with the latest sonar devices, dig into the cooler beside your feet for a favourite beverage and kick your feet up to enjoy a relaxing day of fishing.
Fishing is one of the oldest activities known to man. Archaeologists have found ancient dumps of shell and bone, cave paintings depicting fishing and even hooks made from bone. There is even a theory that states we might be closer to the fish we try and catch than we think. The "Aquatic Ape Hypothesis" contends that human beings spent a time living by and catching their food from the shallows of lakes and oceans. The controversial theory contends years of living that helped us to look different from the apes and chimpanzees thought by some to be our ancestors because of this time evolving by water.
The ancient river Nile was an angler's paradise. The Egyptians relied on fresh and dried fish as a staple in their diets, and the various methods they used have been well represented in many ancient representations from their lives. Although they had some tools like nets, baskets and even hooks and lines, the fish caught were often clubbed to death. Perch, catfish and eels were among the most important catches in the Egyptian times.
The other bed of civilization, Greece, did not share Egypt's love of fishing. Still, there is a depiction on a wine cup from 500 BC that shows a boy kneeling over a stream with a live capture net in the water below him. It's unclear why the boy was 'fishing' however, since the device is clearly for live capture. There is also evidence the Romans fished with nets and tridents off the sides of boats. One of their most famous Gods, Neptune, is depicted usually with a fishing trident. There are references to fishing in the Bible, too.
Perhaps the most recognizable tool for fishing is the hook. No one knows for certain, but it's quite probable prehistoric man was using some form of a hook over 40,000 years ago. Experts have had some problems pinning down exact dates since they know most of the materials used back then were most likely wood and not very durable. British Isle anglers catch fish with hooks made from the hawthorn bush, right up to the present day. Although Stone Age man had the tools necessary for making bone hooks, it is hard for scientists to get exact dates since bone does not define its age well. The oldest known hooks have turned up in Czechoslovakia, but others have turned up in Egypt and Palestine. The Palestinian hooks are believed to be over 9,000 years old, proving that fishing has been around for a very long time indeed.
Indians on Easter Island made their hooks from a gruesome material. Since human sacrifices were abundant in the area for some time, the natives made their fish hooks out of the most plentiful material around - human bone. Fish hooks made of human bone were the norm there until missionaries arrived at the turn of the last century. In addition to hooks made of stone, bone or wood, ancient man often combined material to make composite hooks with barbs that kept the bait on.
Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Fishing" article category.
People interested in the above article "The Fishing History" are also interested in the related articles listed below:
Fishing adventures are the best outdoor activity for both adults and children. Nothing is more enjoyable, peaceful and educational than a day spent fly fishing. In today's busy life schedule, fly fishing is a great way of fun and relaxation which connects you with nature.
Find out how to beat readymade baits by using butyric acid! It is one of the most well known bait and flavour components in carp fishing today, rated by Bill Cottam boss of Nutrabaits in his top ten. It is used alongside pineapple flavours in instant readymade baits. But how can you use it even more effectively than that? How much do you know about butyric acid that will improve your catches right now? This revealing article will really make you think!
The dynamics of oxygen production and use in a pond are complex and can be difficult to quantify. Plankton and algae in the water can produce some oxygen, but basing the oxygen consumption on only the organisms you are raising in the pond or lake will lead to under estimation, as wild organisms will inevitably occupy the same body of water. This leads to a need for sufficient aeration, and it has been shown that a fountain style or aerator is much more efficient than a paddle aerator, especially in brackish water. Pond aeration can make the difference between a swampy, stinking mess, and a healthy, thriving aquaculture with high production.
They say a bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work. Fortunately, you're not likely to have a bad day fishing when you're surrounded by the natural beauty of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Scenic Byway in Maryland (also known as the Catoctin Mountain Scenic Byway.) Take a day off and drive the route to fish-filled rivers, lakes, and ponds where you can let your line slack and your mind wander.
When you think of beaches, you probably don't immediately think of Idaho. A ride on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, however, will surely change that. Located in the northern tip of Idaho, this byway introduces you to miles of open shoreline, surrounding a vast lake filled with schools of fish. Bright green surrounds the beaches, throwing shadows in all the right places-the perfect setting for a day of fishing.
Travel through a wild and undeveloped portion of the Monongahela National Forest. Hardwood forests cover rolling, mountainous terrain capped by dark spruce at high elevations. Traverse a narrow and steep-walled valley with views of clear mountain streams. Sights include Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, Summit Lake, and Falls of Hills Creek.
The 15.5-mile stretch of clear flowing Colorado River winding through the Marble Canyon Gorge between the Glen Canyon Dam and the beginning of the Grand Canyon is commonly referred to as Lees Ferry. Since 1964 this area has hosted a recreational trout fishery that has grown in importance and reputation. For anglers, this picturesque stretch of river is a unique tail-water trout fishery of international renown. Anglers from around the world have come to Lees Ferry to fish for rainbow trout in this large, swift flowing river winding its way through the lower most segment of Glen Canyon.
