| Throughout the evolution of mankind, there are | | | | practice that makes us enjoy and feel drawn to it |
| not many things that have remained still facing | | | | even in the twenty-first century, an era of |
| thousands of years, which have stubbornly | | | | absolute "laziness", where we can eat fish just by |
| refused to change and morph into something else. | | | | buying it from a local grocery shop? Scientists |
| One of these few things are fishing, an aspect so | | | | believe that we feel the urge to relate to nature, |
| familiar and common that it is often disregarded | | | | to feel free in it, and that our instincts pull us into |
| by such categorizations. What started off as a | | | | trying to communicate with nature once more. |
| means of food providing has become over the | | | | And what better way to do this than by going on |
| centuries one of the world's favorite pastimes, | | | | a fishing trip? Another similar theory tries to |
| attracting people of any age and from any | | | | demonstrate that man continuously searches to |
| corners of the planet. | | | | reassure himself that he is in control of nature, |
| Fishing is a very ancient practice that dates back | | | | and that nature is merely a means, an ally into |
| at least to the Mesolithic period which began about | | | | man's fight for survival. Clearly the two theories |
| 10,000 years ago. Archaeological features such as | | | | are bold and innovation's but do make sense and |
| shell maddens, discarded fish bones and cave | | | | explain many aspects of the matter, gaining more |
| paintings show that sea foods were important for | | | | and more adepts worldwide. |
| survival and consumed in significant quantities. | | | | The skeptics however, think that it's nothing more |
| During this period, most people lived a | | | | than an exaggeration and that fishing in the |
| hunter-gather lifestyle and were, of necessity, | | | | present day has nothing to do with its meaning in |
| constantly on the move. | | | | the past. They claim that it's only practiced for |
| However, where there are early examples of | | | | relaxation and that people have finally managed to |
| permanent settlements (though not necessarily | | | | find the entertaining aspect of fishing. To some |
| permanently occupied), that are almost always | | | | extent, this theory could seem more "down to |
| associated with fishing as a major source of food. | | | | earth" but it alsoraises some questions. Why |
| The Neolithic culture and technology spread | | | | haven't we found modern means of relaxation? |
| worldwide between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago. | | | | Why are we keen on keeping alive a practice of |
| With the new technologies of farming and pottery | | | | thousands of years? Can it only be our need to |
| came basic forms of all the main fishing methods | | | | relax in a natural decor from time to time? |
| that are still used today. | | | | As it is the case with all of mankind's mysteries, |
| In addition, fishing has always been a part of our | | | | the truth refuses to come out, come clean with |
| evolving process, helping our ancestors survive | | | | us, and it is probably somewhere in between. |
| through harsh times and feed their families, thus | | | | What we know for sure is that we love fishing |
| playing a crucial role in what we are today. | | | | and that it has always played an important role in |
| Surprisingly or not, the industrial boom in the | | | | our becoming. Who cares about the reasons? Let |
| eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has not | | | | that to the scientists' concern, grab your angling |
| managed to shake fishing from the place it | | | | rod and enjoy fishing. |
| occupies in our conscience. So what is it about this | | | | |