Medieval Fishing Research Paper

Fishing in Medieval Europe

Although, we know that fly fishing is the most superior of all types of fishing, and that dry fly fishing, is perhaps one of the most perfect and enjoyable experiences that man may have here on Earth, it is important to understand the history of fishing, and how the sport has evolved throughout time. Throughout history fish have played an important role in the diet of many cultures, including the diet of many people in Medieval Europe. Different forms of fishing and various techniques had been developed and used throughout history. Detailed information of these practices in medieval times and earlier dates is difficult to find. This being the case it is a relatively unexplored area in which much can be learned about the development of fishing technology, and its impacts on society and culture in medieval times. We will examine then in this essay, the use of fish catching gear and tackle, the use of boats, advances in maritime technology, and fish processing in Medieval Europe to approximately 1050 A.D., all of which set the stage for further
These traps could have been made with a net attached to two poles set in the sand at low tide. At high tide, someone would pull the net up to the surface of the water making a barrier and trapping the fish in the shallower water. When the tide subsided the fish would remain trapped in the net or lying in the mud for easy gathering. Some older and more permanent traps were made of stone walls or pillars. These traps used the same the concept, but were effective because the stones attracted algae and food for smaller fish, which would then attract the larger fish to the trap. The exact origins of these traps is unknown, but there is definite evidence that they still being built in the medieval period, and there is also evidence that some were used by the Cistercians in the late eleventh