30 



FISH-HOOKS OF WOOD FROM FRANCE. 



MODERN FISH-HOOKS OF WOOD. 



Some vinedressers who live on the banks of the Dordogne, in the parishes 

 of Ambes and Prignac-et-Cazelles (Gironde) indulge in the pleasures of fishing 

 during their leisure moments. The wooden fish-hooks which they make and 

 which they still use for eel-fishing, have for a long time attracted ray atten- 

 tion. Those which I have, have figured in my collection since 1876. 



These instruments are of two different kinds, called by the natives Haiii 

 or/?:, and Clabcon or Claveau respectively. 



Fig. I. L'hain (wooden fish-gorge). Fig, 2. Clabeou or Claveau (thorn 

 fish-hook) Gironde. Fig. 3. Pre-historic fish-gorge of ivory, Cave-deposits, 

 Giroude. Fig. 4. Fish gorge from the Essex coast, recent. 



L'hain (Fig. i) is a small fish-gorge pointed towards both ends, in the 

 shape of a spindle, about two or three centimetres long, cut out of a slender 

 twig of heath {Erica scopaiia) sharpened at both ends, firmly secured at the 

 centre by a mere thread, about 35 centimetres long. 



