History of Spear Fishing
One of the basic needs of man is to gather food. Since food exists in the water, man has been trying to harvest it for centuries. Spearfishing was one way even early man was able to capture his prey. The tool was simple. All he needed was a sharpened stick and a quick hand. Even with the development of fishing rods, spearfishing continued to be a popular sport and still continues to attract today's fishermen.
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Ancients
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As far back as paleolithic times, man hunted with spears. At that time, humans hunted each day for only the food they needed and relied on the most basic tools to help meet their needs. One of the first fishing tools was the barbed pole or the spear. "Fish spears" are also mentioned in the Bible in the book of Job and again by the Greek historian Polybius who discusses how swordfish are hunted by a "harpoon with a barbed and detachable head." Early hunters in ancient India also were known to use harpoons for fishing.
Eskimos (Inuits)
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Eskimos used spears with bone heads to hunt fish 4,000 years ago. This discovery was made in 1976 on Wrangel Island. The weapon is believed to have been used not just for fishing, but underwater fishing in wintry weather conditions. Inuits also used heavy duty spears or harpoons for sea mammals. The blade was made of bone, stone, and in later times, of metal.
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Native Americans
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Native American men used spears to catch their fish; the fishing pole was reserved for the women. A detailed account of spear fishing was recorded in the journal of Alexander Henry in 1762. He describes a "spearhead made of iron fastened to a pole about ten feet in length." The brave lowered a decoy into the water to attract the fish. When the fish was interested, the fisherman pulled the decoy toward the top of the water. The fish followed and the spear was thrust into its back. Native Americans also fished at night. The lights from the torches made it easier to spot the fish. They would stand up in the canoes and thrust the spear into the fish.
Modern
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Today, spearfishing is considered an ecological way of hunting and an activity that is managed around the world. Spearfishing has evolved from the sticks with sharpened ends, stones, bone or metals to elastic or pneumatic-powered spear guns. People who want to spearfish today usually hunt under the water. Some still free-dive, but often they use snorkels or scuba gear.
Future
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Spearfishing has evolved through the centuries. Technology continues to make changes to the sport. With proper management, spearfishing should be an exciting sport for centuries to come. A key concern is pollution's effect on the availability of fish. With the increase in popularity of catch-and-release fishing, spearfishing has come under fire by some environmentalists. Most speared fish, after all, can't be released to fight another day.
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References
- Photo Credit spear image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
