Fishing from the earliest times - Blog

28 INTRODUCTIONjoue un role considerable et s'associe a toutes les formes doI'activite." ^Magic, especially imitative magic, according to Frazer andothers, plays a great part in the measures taken by the rudehunter or fisherman to secure an abundant supply of food.On the principle that like produceslike, many things are doneby him or for him by his friendsan alaskan hook with awizard's head.From E. Krause's VorgeschichtlicheFischereigerdie,fig. 345.in deliberate imitation of the resultsought.Confirmatory evidence fromraces, past and present the worldover, stands ready to call. ThePoint Barrow Eskimos, whenfollowing the whale, always carrya whale-shaped amulet of stone orwood. The North African fishermanof the present day, inobedience to an ancient Moslemwork on Magic, fashions a tinimage of the fish which he desires,inscribes it with four mysticletters, and fastens it to his line.If at the due season fish failto appear, the Nootka wizard constructsof wood 2 a fish swimming,and launches it in the directionwhence the schools generally arrive.This simulacrum, plus incantations,compels the laggards in no time. 3In Cambodia, ifa netsman beunsuccessful, he strips naked and withdraws a short distance: then stroHing up to the net, as if he saw it not, helets himself be caught in the meshes, whereupon he calls^ Acad, des Sciences, Paris, seance du 22 juin, 1903.2 The pictured hook is of special interest. The head, considered byKrause that of a wizard, was intended to endow the hook with an extrapower of magic.3 F. Boaz, 6th Report oti N.W. Tribes of Canada, p. 45.