Old-Timey Sportsmen

History of Fishing & Hunting
Throughout history, people have loved fish and devised ever most
efficient and ingenious methods of catching them. The oldest
fish hooks date back at least 10,000 years and probably existed long
before. Fishermen with pole and line were depicted in ancient Egypt
and China. Macedonia produced artificial flies in Roman times. The
name “fly” fishing, derives from an earlier time when people used live
flies for bait.
The history of sport fishing could be said to have
officially started in the western world with the 1496
British publication of The Treatyse of Fysshynge With
Angle, written primarily for the English upper class,
whose members traditionally angled for trout and
salmon in inland waters. The subject of the book
deals with rods, lines and artificial fly patterns.
Some of the fly patterns described are still in use
today.
Until the 16th century, people fished using a stick with line attached
to the end! During the 17th century, when Izaak Walton wrote The
Compleat Angler, someone put guides on a rod, which allowed a running
line for the first time. Starting as a wooden spool with a center pin,
the fly fishing reel slowly came into development. Casting was born
when the reel was combined with the new use of guides and a long
split bamboo rod.
Early fly line was made of horsehair- a single strand from the tail of a
stallion was approximately 4lb test, and could be plaited together for
added strength. Later, gut line, silk and linen were also used.
Although developed in the 17th century, the first fully modern version
of the fly fishing reel was designed in 1874 by Charles Orvis. By
then, the open-faced bait-casting reel had been invented in the 1820s
and slowly grew in popularity. William Shakespeare of Kalamazoo,
Michigan, came up with his level wind bait-casting model in 1896.
The spinning reel was the last to come into common use.
One hundred years ago, the people in these photos may have used
quaint, old-fashioned equipment, but whether in pond, creek, river or
lake, fresh water or salt, these fishermen and women caught fish. Like
their modern counterparts today- with or without the satisfaction of
success- they had a happy, exciting and memorable time doing it!
Our ancient ancestors have been hunting for meat, skins, feathers
and bone since long before the evolutionary arrival of Homo
sapiens. Through the ages, our forbears constantly honed their skills in
the arts of stalking, tracking and trapping, while further developing
evermore practical and sophisticated tools and tactics.
From the simple beginnings of throwing rocks and sticks, sharpened
spears and chipped stone points for both hunting and defense evolved.
The “atlatl” or throwing stick was the first truly effective mechanical
breakthrough. This simple device added leverage that increased the
propulsion of a missile, resulting in considerable more distance, force
and accuracy than simply throwing by hand. Then, approximately
15,000 years ago, the bow and arrow appeared.
At about this same time in history, humans gained a valuable new ally
in their hunting endeavors as the domesticated wolf slowly morphed
into “man’s best friend.”
These innovations paled in comparison to a new masterpiece in
technological development- a metal tube and substance, which upon
ignition, explosively propelled stones or pellets from its end with
unimaginable effectiveness. The new device, then called a “hand
canon” made its European debut in the 14th century. This was the
birth of the modern firearm.
Over the next centuries, these first simple barrel
loaded, smooth bore guns underwent a dizzying
evolution and refinement. First, came the
harquebus, blunderbuss, and then the musket. The
carrying power and accuracy of the projectile was
increased by the invention of rifling in the 16th
century. The next century saw development of
flintlock ignition, the breechloader, double barreled shotguns and
the elongated bullet. The 1800s brought the introduction of the
percussion cap, metallic cartridges, bolt action rifle and lever action
loading.
Firearms, which had started primarily as weapons, gradually became
more widely used by hunters. The “fowling piece,” or shotgun, and
the rifle became standard equipment for the market gunner and
“sportsman” alike by the latter 19th century.
With agricultural developments and animal domestication, mankind’s
reliance on hunting for sustenance has gradually evolved into the
modern sport we know today- complete with Teddy Roosevelt’s
doctrine of “Fair chase” bag limits, off limits, and closed seasons.
For the camaraderie and challenge, for the days in
the open and the meat on the table, today’s modern
hunters still enjoy and share in this oldest of human
endeavors.
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