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