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