Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T00:36:18.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fishing in Port Jackson, New South Wales–more than met the eye

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Dominic Steele
Dominic Steele
Affiliation:
64 Edgeware Road, Enmore NSW 2042, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Contemporary diaries and the water-colours of artists such as the Port Jackson Painter vividly tell of Aboriginal life when the First Fleet in 1788 settled its cargo of convicts in Australia. Fishing was important around the waters of Port Jackson, whose Aboriginal inhabitants are recorded to have used the techniques of spear-fishing and angling. Were other methods also used? Fish remains from a shell midden provide an opportunity to investigate.

Type
Papers
Information
Antiquity , Volume 69 , Issue 262 , March 1995 , pp. 47 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 1995 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Attenbrow, V.J. 1976. Aboriginal subsistence economy on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia. Unpublished BA (Hons) thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney.Google Scholar
Attenbrow, V.J. 1988. Research into the Aboriginal occupation of the Hunter’s Hill Municipality. Unpublished report to the Hunter’s Hill Municipal Council, Sydney.Google Scholar
Attenbrow, V.J. 1991. Port Jackson archaeological project: a study of the prehistory of the Port Jackson catchment, New South Wales. Stage I — site recording and site assessment, Australian Aboriginal Studies 1991(2): 40–55.Google Scholar
Attenbrow, V.J. 1992a. Port Jackson Archaeological Project — Stage II: Report on work carried out between January 1990 and 30 June 1992. Unpublished report to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra.Google Scholar
Attenbrow, V.J. 1992b. Shell bed or shell midden, Australian Archaeology 34: 3–21.Google Scholar
Balme, J. 1983. Prehistoric fishing in the lower Darling, western New South Wales, in Grigson & Clutton-Brock 1983: 19–32.Google Scholar
Beaglehole, J.C. (ED.) 1955. The journals of Captain fames Cook — the voyage of the Endeavour 1768-1771. London: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Blnford, L.R. 1983. In pursuit of the past. New York: Thames & Hudson.Google Scholar
Bowdler, S. 1970. Bass Point: The excavation of a south east Australian shell midden showing cultural and economic change. Unpublished BA (Hons) thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney.Google Scholar
Bowdler, S. 1976. Hook, line and dilly bag: an interpretation of an Australian coastal shell midden, Mankind 10(4): 248–58.–Google Scholar
Bowdler, S. (Ed.). 1982. Coastal archaeology in eastern Australia. Canberra: Department of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.Google Scholar
Bradley, W. 1786–1792 [1969]. A voyage to New South Wales, the journal of Lieutenant William Bradley, RN ofHMS Sirius 1786-1792. Sydney: Ure Smith.Google Scholar
Brayshaw, H. 1986. Aborigines of the Hunter Valley. Scone: Scone & Upper Hunter Historical Society. Bicentennial Publication 4.Google Scholar
Brierly, O.W. 1842–44. Journal of a visit to Twofold Bay, Maneroo and districts beyond the Snowy River. Unpublished manuscript A535 in Mitchell Library, Sydney.Google Scholar
Campbell, V.M. 1978. Two fish traps located on the mid-north coast of NSW, in Mcbryde, I. (ed.), Records of times past: 122–34. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.Google Scholar
Casteel, R.W. 1976. Fish remains in archaeology and palaeoenvironmental studies. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Coleman, J. 1980. Fish bones for fun and profit, in Johnson, I. (ed.), Holier than thou: 61–75. Canberra: Department of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.Google Scholar
Coleman, J. 1982. A new look at the north coast: fish traps and ‘villages’, in Bowdler 1982: 1–10.Google Scholar
Colley, J. 1983. Interpreting prehistoric fishing strategies: an Orkney case study, in Grigson & Clutton-Brock 1983: 157–71.Google Scholar
Colley, S.M. 1987. Fishing for facts: can we reconstruct fishing methods from archaeological evidence? Australian Archaeology 24: 16–26.Google Scholar
Colley, S.M. 1990. The analysis and interpretation of archaeological fish remains, Archaeological Method and Theory 2: 207–53.Google Scholar
Colley, S.M. & R., JONES 1987. New fish data from Rocky Cape, north west Tasmania, Archaeology in Oceania 22: 67–71.Google Scholar
Collins, D. 1798 [1975], An account of the English colony in New South Wales I. Republished. Sydney: Reed in association with Royal Australian Historical Society.Google Scholar
Coutts, P.J. 1975. Marine fishing in archaeological perspective: techniques for determining fishing strategies, in Casteel, R.W. & Quimby, G.I. (ed.), Maritime adaptations of the Pacific: 265–306. The Hague: Mouton.Google Scholar
Dyall, L.K. 1982. Aboriginal fishing stations on the Newcastle coastline, New South Wales, in Bowdler 1982: 52–62.Google Scholar
Enright, W.J. 1935. An Aboriginal fish trap, Mankind 1: 8–9.Google Scholar
Fullagar, R. & Szpak, C. 1992. Port Jackson Archaeological Project: use-wear and residue analysis of selected artefacts, Appendix 2 in Attenbrow 1992a.Google Scholar
Govett, W.R. 1837. Sketches of New South Wales XV. The natives: their method of fishing etc., Saturday Magazine X (290): 7–8.Google Scholar
Grigson, C. & Clutton-Brock, J. (ED.). 1983. Animals and archaeology 2: Shell middens, fishes and birds. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. International series S183.Google Scholar
Happ, G. 1977. To catch a fish ...! the aquatic factor in Aboriginal fishing technology. BA(Hons) thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney.Google Scholar
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF NSW. 1893 [1978]. Volume I, Part 2 — 1788–1792. Sydney: Government Printer.Google Scholar
Hunter, J. 1793 [1968], An historical journal of the transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, with further accounts by Governor Phillip. London: John Bach. [Facsimile. Adelaide: Libraries Board of South Australia.]Google Scholar
Hutchins, B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea fishes of southern Australia. Perth: Swainston.Google Scholar
Kefous, K. 1977. We have fish with ears and wonder if it is valuable. Unpublished BA (Hons) thesis, Department of Prehistory, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Knapp, A.B. 1992. Archaeology and Annales: time, space, and change, in Knapp, A.B. (ed.), Archaeology, Annales, and ethnohistory: 1–21. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Kohen, J. 1993. The Dharug and their neighbours. Sydney: Darug Link in association in Blacktown and District Historical Society.Google Scholar
Kohen, J.L. & Lampkrt, R.J. 1987. Hunters and fishers of the Sydney region, in Mulvaney, D.J. & White, J.P. (ed.), Australians to 1788: 343–65. Sydney: Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates.Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. 1971a. Burrill Lake and Currarong. Canberra: Department of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University. Terra Aus-tralis 1.Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. 1971b. Coastal Aborigines of southeastern Australia, in Mulvaney, D.J. & Golson, J. (ed.), Aboriginal man and environment in Australia: 114–32. Canberra: Australian National University Press.Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. 1988. Aboriginal life around Port Jackson, 1788-92, in Smith, B. & Wheeler, A. (ed.), The art of the First Fleet and other early Australian drawings: 19–69. Melbourne: Oxford University Press in association with Australian Academy of the Humanities and British Museum (Natural History).Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. & Konecny, T.A. 1989.Aboriginal spears of Port Jackson type discovered — a bicentennial sequel Antiquity 63: 137–41.Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. & Megaw, V. 1979. Life around Sydney, in Stanbury, P. (ed.), lO,OOOyears of Sydney life: 65–71. Sydney: The Macleay Museum, University of Sydney.Google Scholar
Lampert, R.J. & Sanders, F. 1973. Plants and men on the Beecroft Peninsula, N.S.W., Mankind 9(2): 96–108.Google Scholar
Lawrence, R.J. 1968. Aboriginal habitat and economy. Canberra: Department of Geography, Australian National University. Occasional Paper 6.Google Scholar
Leach, B.F. 1979. Fish and crayfish from the Washpool midden site, New Zealand: their use in determining season of occupation and prehistoric fishing methods, Journal of Archaeological Science 6: 109–26.Google Scholar
Mackaness, G. 1941. George Augustus Robinson‘s journey into southeastern Australia, 1844, Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society 27(5): 318–49.Google Scholar
Mcbryde, I. 1974. Aboriginal prehistory in New England. Sydney. Sydney University Press.Google Scholar
Mccarthy, F.D. 1948. The Lapstone Creek excavation: two culture periods revealed in eastern New South Wales, Records of the Australian Museum 22: 1–34.Google Scholar
Mcdonald, J. 1992. The archaeology of the Angophora Reserve rock-shelter. Sydney: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Environmental Heritage Monograph Series 1.Google Scholar
Meehan, B. & Jones, R. (ed.). 1988. Archaeology with ethnography: an Australian perspective. Canberra: Department of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific Studies, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Murray, A. 1909. Letter dated 18 February 1909 from Aubrey Murray, Compiling Branch, Lands Office, to the Australian Museum. Australian Museum Archives, Series 9 correspondence, M7/1909.Google Scholar
Owen, J.F. 1984. Bones to scale: the interpretation of fish remains from New South Wales coastal middens. Unpublished BA (Hons) thesis. Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney.Google Scholar
Owen, J.F. & Merrick, J.R. 1994a. Analysis of coastal middens in southeastern Australia: selectivity of angling and other fishing techniques related to Holocene deposits, Journal of Archaeological Science 21: 11–16.Google Scholar
Owen, J.F. 1994b. Analysis of coastal middens in southeastern Australia: sizing of fish remains in Holocene deposits, Journal of Archaeological Science 21: 3–10.Google Scholar
Poiner, G. 1976q. The process of the year among Aborigines of the central and south coast of New South Wales, Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania 11(3): 186–206.Google Scholar
Robinson, G.A. 1844. Papers of George Augusts Robinson. Journal commencing Wednesday 28 August at Pambuller and terminating 15 September 1844 Biggah Country. Ms A7035 in Mitchell Library, Sydney.Google Scholar
Rouchley, T.C. 1961. Fish and fisheries of Australia. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.Google Scholar
Schiffer, M.B. 1987. Formation processes of the archaeological record. Albuquerque (NM): University of New Mexico Press.Google Scholar
Shackley, M. 1981. Environmental archaeology. London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Spaulding, A.C. 1968. Explanation in archaeology, in Binford, S.R. & Binford, L.R. (ed.), New perspectives in archaeology: 33–9. Chicago (IL): Aldine.Google Scholar
STATE POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION. 1981. The ecology offish in Botany Bay — biology of commercially and recreationally valuable species. Sydney.Google Scholar
Steele, D.S. 1992. Port Jackson Archaeological Project: a report on the faunal (bone) component from six archaeological assemblages, Appendix 1 in Attenbrow 1992a.Google Scholar
Stockdale, J. 1789 [1950]. The voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, with an account of the establishment of the colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island. Adelaide: Australiana Society.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Reimer, P.J. 1993. Extended 14C database and revised CALIB radiocarbon calibration program, Radiocarbon 35: 215–30.Google Scholar
Sullivan, H. 1982. Aboriginal use of the forest environment, Appendix 1 in D. Byrne, The five forests: an archaeological and anthropological investigation. Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M.E. 1982. Aboriginal shell middens in the coastal landscape of New South Wales. Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Prehistory and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M.E. 1984. A shell midden excavation at Pambula Lake on the far south coast of New South Wales, Archaeology in Oceania 19: 1–15.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M.E. 1987. The recent prehistoric exploitation of edible mussel in Aboriginal shell middens in southern New South Wales, Archaeology in Oceania 22(3): 97–106.Google Scholar
Tench, W. 1979. Sydney’s first four years, being a reprint of a narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay (1789), and a complete account of the settlement at Port Jackson (1793). Sydney: Library of Australian History.Google Scholar
Thomson, J.M. 1978. A field guide to the common sea and estuary fishes of non-tropical Australia. Sydney: Collins.Google Scholar
Turbet, P. 1989. The Aborigines of the Sydney district before 1788. Sydney: Kangaroo Press.Google Scholar
Vinnicombe, P. 1980. Prediction and predilection. A study of Aboriginal sites in the Gosford-Wyong region. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney.Google Scholar
Wheeler, A. & Jones, A. 1976. Fish remains, in Rogerson, A. (ed.), Excavations on Fullers Hill, Great Yarmouth: 212–25. East Anglian Archaeological Report 1, Norfolk Archaeological Unit.Google Scholar
Wood, V. 1989. Angophora Reserve rocksheiter: a faunal analysis. Unpublished B.Litt thesis, Department of Prehistory and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Wood, V.K. 1992. Excerpt from Angophora Reserve rocksheiter: a faunal analysis, Appendix I in McDonald 1992.Google Scholar
Worgan, G.B. 1788 [1978]. Journal of a First Fleet surgeon. Sydney: Library Council of New South Wales in association with Library of Australian History, Sydney. William Dixson Foundation Publication 16.Google Scholar