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FISHING, The archaic way
Many years ago, I was told that the average fisherman spent some eight dollars a pound for the fish he caught. That takes into account the cost of boat and travel, as well as gear. Not to mention the beer.
I can not say how true the above may be, but personally I think the little guys I came home with cost more like fifty.
But for early man there was indeed, a better way. A bit of fiber, a bird claw or two, these plus a small stone, and he was set for the day.
At the Zueberbueler shelter site in west Texas, the skill of fishing supplied a major portion of early man's diet. The recovery of nets and fish hooks, the evidence of his new skill. The large amount of bones, at the site, demonstrated that his skills were not hampered by the simplicity of the methods he used.
The Pecos offers a display on the nets, over 70 samples recovered at the site, in the weaving display. A work now in progress.
Below we will take you to visit the recovered fish hooks and sinkers used. The item you may find confusing is the Gouge. This form of fish hook is best understood if the visitor tries to make one.
Take a common hardwood toothpick. Tie a bit of string or fishing line close to the center. Holding the pick and the line parallel slide a bit of bait on from the end of the pick. Placing the bait over the junction of the line and hook you are set for the big one out there waiting for you.
How does it work. That will cost you extra.
Just a joke there. The pick and line are easy for a fish to swallow, as there is lacking any obstruction. Once into the fish's stomach and hopefully the bait off the hook, the pick will try to turn away from the line, or 90 degrees to the line.
As you can see the pulling back of the line forces the ends of the hook into the sides of the fish's throat. The fish is hooked.
Early man used a small sliver of bone to form his gouge, looking very similar to a bone toothpick.
If any of our visitors find the chance to try out this archaic method of fishing, the Pecos sure would like to learn of the results, but not the costs.
Let's go look at some fishing gear, 2,000 - 9,000 BP.