64 



PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



that the ancient fishermen applied such simple contrivances tending to facilitate 

 their work. 



It cannot now be decided whether the lake-men made their nets " on a 

 frame by knotting the string at each point of intersection," as M. Figuier 

 conjectures,* or employed netting-needles. The latter are repeatedly alluded to 

 in the work from which I derive the principal facts bearing upon prehistoric 

 fishing in the Swiss and other lakes. But the notices relating to these implements 

 are vague and not calculated to throw any light on the method of net-making. 

 Among the antiquities found at the stone-age station near JNTussdorf, on the 

 Ueberlinger See, the northwestern branch of the Lake of Constance (Baden), are 

 mentioned " netting, hair, or clothes pins, made out of boars' tusks, and conse- 

 quently curved ; they have a sharp point, and are sometimes notched at one end, 

 probably caused by the use to which they were applied. The pins for making 

 fishing-nets were made out of the corner tooth of a bear and perforated. "f I 

 reproduce in Figs. 79, 80, and 81 the representations serving to illustrate the 

 above descriptions.! Figs. 79 and 80 certainly bear no i-esemblance to any 

 netting-implements with which I am acquainted ; and as for the pierced bear's 

 tooth (Fig. 81), there is no statement made in support of the view that it served 

 as a pin for making fishing-nets. It difi'ers in no way from the pierced teeth 

 worn as trophies or charms by the prehistoric Europeans as welLas by still 

 existins- savase tribes. Pointed ribs found at some lacustrine stations ha\'e 

 been regarded as netting-implements ; but it is not at all certain that they were 

 thus employed. 



Fig. 79. 



Figs. 79-81. — Implements made of boars' tusks, and perforated bear's tooth. Nnssdorf. 



* Figuier : Primitive Man ; p. loH. 



f Keller: Lake Dwellings; Vol. I, p. 119. 



I Ibid, i Vol. II, Plate XXVIII, Figs. 16, 17, and 15, respectively. 



