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Fishing Industry in Ancient Egypt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

A. A. Aleem
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Synopsis

Prototypes of the more important contemporary fishing gear were in common use in Ancient Egypt. These included fish harpoons, hooks, hand and longlines, angling, trolling, cast nets, fish traps and baskets of various types, dip nets, weirs, seine nets (with and without pockets) and beam trawls.

The seine and beam trawl appeared successively in the Old Kingdom (ca 2660–2180 B.C.) and Middle Empire (ca 2180–1640 B.C.), while the iron fish hook with barb, shank and eye or flange dates back to the New Empire (ca 1640–1075 B.C.).

Archaeological material relevant to fishing consists of preserved samples, artifacts, models and papyrus scripts as well as relief illustrations in tombs and temple walls of scenes depicting fishing methods and crafts from various Dynasties.

The importance of fisheries in the economy of Old Egypt is demonstrated by the exportation of fish commodities and the imposition of taxes on fishing rights and in the engagement of a large number of the population in fish industry. Fish processing included drying, salting, pickling, fish cake and fillet; various implements used were discovered.

It is suggested that these basic fishing techniques (methods and gear) spread in time, along various routes, from Egypt to other parts of the world.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 73: Challenger Expedition Centenary Proceedings 2 , 1972 , pp. 333 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1972

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References

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