84 PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



ought, however, to be observed that it is difficult to draw a line of demarcation 

 between the stone points which have been harpoons, and those which have 

 belonged to arrows, because the same stone point could have been adapted either 

 to a harpoon or to an arrow."* 



On the other hand, it may be taken for granted that shafts with chipped 

 stone points of suitable size and shape immediately attached to them, formed 

 fishing-darts at the period under consideration. It would be impossible, how- 

 ever, to single out the points thus employed, though such as are provided with 

 barbs seem particularly fitted for that purpose. Mr. John Evans, in his well- 

 known work on the ancient stone implements of Great Britain, figures (page 

 340, etc.) several chipped flint points of this class, small and large, that might 

 well have served as armatures for fishing-spears, and others are represented on 

 the plates of Captain Madsen's work on the prehistoric antiquities of Denmark ; 

 but, in view of the uncertainty as to their use, I refrain fi'om copying any of 

 these illustrations. 



Arrow-heads. — With regard to arrows used in shooting fish — a method most 

 probably practised during the period here treated — I have nothing to add to my 

 statements on page 56. An arrow employed in hunting quadrupeds or birds 

 would also on occasion serve to kill a fish, and hence an attempt at specification 

 must necessarily prove fruitless. 



Sinkers. — The objects of this class obtained from the lacustrine settlements 

 of the stone age may in general be considered as neolithic relics ; but the antiquity 

 of such as have been found on or below the surface of the soil, in water, swamps, 

 etc., is doubtful, to say the least, considering that line and net-sinkers of stone are 

 used in Europe at the present time. Only particular circumstances of associa- 

 tion would favor the recognition of the period to which such stray specimens 

 pertain. In a late work Dr. Arthur Mitchell, of Edinburgh, makes some obser- 

 vations bearing on this subject, which ai'e of sufficient interest to be given here 

 in full. I also insert the illustrations accompanying his remarks. 



" There is a class of stone objects," he says, " which are nearly always to be 

 seen in collections of antiquities, and which are now correctly called sinkers. 

 They have been often found under circumstances which indicate a great age. 

 Worsaae figures them among the antiquities of the stone age in Denmark. They 

 vai'y much in form and in character. Most of them are simply bored stones — 

 generally with one hole roughly picked or ground through them, but occasionally 

 with two. Sometimes \X\ey have a groove cut down one face of the stone and 

 running over its end, and another similar groove cut transversely to this ; or the 



t Nilsson : Primitive Inhabitants ; p. 32. 



