| Fishing has been a part of our survival for as long | | | | Columbian basin, ancient tribal salmon fishers have |
| as recorded history and probably much longer. | | | | past down a fishing technique that is still being |
| Ancient cave paintings from 10,000 years ago | | | | practiced today. Tribal families for many |
| depict fishing along with fish bone remains and | | | | generations have built wooden scaffolding that is |
| animal bone hooks. Even ancient stone anchors | | | | very strong and stable that spans the river. This |
| are currently being displayed in | | | | enables them to drop the nets that capture many |
| museums.Everywhere on this planet, what ever | | | | salmon at one time. In the smaller rivers of the |
| culture, each has its own history in fishing and | | | | basin, dip nets are used because you can control |
| techniques, most of which are still used today. In | | | | them better. These nets historically have been |
| fact, almost all ancient cultures have used boats, | | | | made with hemp twine, sinew and tree pitch. |
| hooks, nets and spears of some kind.The ancient | | | | These nets have a long pole attached to them |
| Romans used rods and lines, nets and spears. The | | | | and one stands in the water and scoops up the |
| ancient Greeks used rods and woven baskets and | | | | fish.In medieval Europe, V shaped structures were |
| woven cages that stay under water where | | | | built to herd fish into waiting nets.Some cultures |
| caught fish are kept alive until they are | | | | have used poisonous plants to stun fish so that it |
| needed.Some cultures have been more creative | | | | is easy to catch them. This is a dangerous |
| than others and have very interesting techniques | | | | practice and has been made illegal to fish this way |
| such as the night fishing in Japan. It is called | | | | due to the obvious safety issues. One does not |
| cormorant fishing. It requires 7 to 8 cormorant | | | | want to risk eating a fish that has been |
| birds that have handlers to train them. Once | | | | poisoned.Fishing today is not only for survival but |
| trained, they go out at night on a long narrow | | | | is a huge sport all over the world. But when you |
| boat that has a long rod in front of it with a | | | | really look at it, not much has really changed in |
| hanging basket that is in flames, the birds are | | | | how we fish. The major difference really is in the |
| each on a leash and are trained to dive down and | | | | advancements made in hooks and nets.How ever |
| catch fish, which they are experts in. This | | | | you fish, may the ones you catch be as big as |
| technique is still being practiced today and if you | | | | the ones that got away.Willie Jones is a freelance |
| are for any reason going to Japan, you may want | | | | writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist, for |
| to sign up to see this phenomenon.In the | | | | Art Inspires, Inc. |