44 INTRODUCTION 



grip the coal. Having by means of a rude spy-glass located the 

 position of the mineral, they lowered from a boat a cord to 

 which an octopus — the larger the better — was secured. As the 

 fish detested the sensation of suspension, the moment he touched 

 bottom he clutched with all his tentacles any solid object 

 within reach, and while being drawn up clung to it with might 

 and main. 



By this method of inverted fishing — whether a survival of 

 " Minoan Culture " or an adaptation from the East, where for 

 many centuries the octopus has been similarly used for catching 

 fish — much coal and much else was retrieved from the sea. 



Note. — Since the above was written Th. Mainage has published at Paris 

 Les Religions de la prihistoire. " Rites de Chasse " (ch. viii) includes a section 

 on magic (pp. 326-342) and on religion (pp. 342-9), both dealing with fishing, 

 etc., ancient and modern. The sermon preached among the Hurons to the 

 fish recalls that of St. Anthony of Padua. Mainage, on p. 344, fig. 188, gives 

 an incised design from Laugerie-Basse, which according to him represents 

 "Pecheurs armes de filets (?)." The design is as little convincing as the 

 author by his query seems convinced. 



