DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49270#0345
258
0. Bates
bends down some of the water plants. The sinkers in their form resemble that shown
in fig. 192 (cf. figs. 198, 199).
§ 11. The double hand net. In shallow ponds near Cairo the modern Egyp-
tian sometimes makes use of a rectangular net, about 6 meters long and 1 m. 50 wide,
attached at either end to a short pole (fig. 151). Such a net is worked by two men, one
to each pole. The net “is spread out nearly upright with the lower edge on the bottom
and is then dragged to the end of the pond, when it is quickly lifted out of the water,
the lower end being raised, thus causing the fish to fall back into the net.” 206 The use of
a similar device was known anciently, though I have seen no representations in which the
length of net is shown as being fitted with wooden poles (fig. 175). It was presumably
from such a simple origin as this that the long seines were developed. The origin of the
modern stake net, which appears to have been anciently used in Egypt,207 may also be
seen in this elementary contrivance.
§ 12. The seine. The use of large seine nets is a favorite theme of the Old King-
dom artists, who apprise us of there having been two forms of these nets, and several
ways of working them.
The ancient Egyptian seine, as most commonly represented, consisted of a net of
such considerable length as to require eight or ten men to haul it. In shape it was much
like those employed in modern Egypt and in Europe. It consisted of a long strip of
netting with parallel top and bottom, and with rounded or pointed ends (cf. figs. 161-164,
166-168). The netting did not always run to the very ends of the space enclosed by
the top and bottom ropes, (fig. 169), for the ends of a long net are exposed to much
rough usage. To each end of the net was affixed a drag rope by which the seine was hauled
in. The drag ropes were either slipped through a becket at the end of the net (fig. 167),
or they were knotted (figs. 164, 168, 169, 172 right).208 It is just possible that they were
in some cases made fast by a peg or billet passed through a loop (cf. fig. 171 right). In
some instances one hauling rope was fastened with a knot, while the other was passed
through a loop or becket (figs. 167, 168). In hauling home the net, the fishermen not
only used their hands, but, very frequently, shoulder slings as well (e. g. fig. 161, 162, 169).
These slings were, in most of those cases which can be made out, not twisted like the
round ropes of the nets, but were flat plaited bands of four or more strands (fig. 174 —
detail of one of the slings in fig. 161). How the slings were attached to the drag ropes
206 Loat, op. cit., p. xxv.
207 Aelian, op. cit., VI, 32, says that the thrissa, a fish found in Lake Mareotis, was caught by singing to it,
and by the noise of shell clappers. The fish danced and leaped into nets spread to catch them. This is plainly a
distorted account of a fish drive, in which stake nets would be the most natural goal towards which the fish were
herded. They are so used today.
205 One of these knots is shown in some detail in Steindorff, op. cit., pl. 117 (right of seine).
0. Bates
bends down some of the water plants. The sinkers in their form resemble that shown
in fig. 192 (cf. figs. 198, 199).
§ 11. The double hand net. In shallow ponds near Cairo the modern Egyp-
tian sometimes makes use of a rectangular net, about 6 meters long and 1 m. 50 wide,
attached at either end to a short pole (fig. 151). Such a net is worked by two men, one
to each pole. The net “is spread out nearly upright with the lower edge on the bottom
and is then dragged to the end of the pond, when it is quickly lifted out of the water,
the lower end being raised, thus causing the fish to fall back into the net.” 206 The use of
a similar device was known anciently, though I have seen no representations in which the
length of net is shown as being fitted with wooden poles (fig. 175). It was presumably
from such a simple origin as this that the long seines were developed. The origin of the
modern stake net, which appears to have been anciently used in Egypt,207 may also be
seen in this elementary contrivance.
§ 12. The seine. The use of large seine nets is a favorite theme of the Old King-
dom artists, who apprise us of there having been two forms of these nets, and several
ways of working them.
The ancient Egyptian seine, as most commonly represented, consisted of a net of
such considerable length as to require eight or ten men to haul it. In shape it was much
like those employed in modern Egypt and in Europe. It consisted of a long strip of
netting with parallel top and bottom, and with rounded or pointed ends (cf. figs. 161-164,
166-168). The netting did not always run to the very ends of the space enclosed by
the top and bottom ropes, (fig. 169), for the ends of a long net are exposed to much
rough usage. To each end of the net was affixed a drag rope by which the seine was hauled
in. The drag ropes were either slipped through a becket at the end of the net (fig. 167),
or they were knotted (figs. 164, 168, 169, 172 right).208 It is just possible that they were
in some cases made fast by a peg or billet passed through a loop (cf. fig. 171 right). In
some instances one hauling rope was fastened with a knot, while the other was passed
through a loop or becket (figs. 167, 168). In hauling home the net, the fishermen not
only used their hands, but, very frequently, shoulder slings as well (e. g. fig. 161, 162, 169).
These slings were, in most of those cases which can be made out, not twisted like the
round ropes of the nets, but were flat plaited bands of four or more strands (fig. 174 —
detail of one of the slings in fig. 161). How the slings were attached to the drag ropes
206 Loat, op. cit., p. xxv.
207 Aelian, op. cit., VI, 32, says that the thrissa, a fish found in Lake Mareotis, was caught by singing to it,
and by the noise of shell clappers. The fish danced and leaped into nets spread to catch them. This is plainly a
distorted account of a fish drive, in which stake nets would be the most natural goal towards which the fish were
herded. They are so used today.
205 One of these knots is shown in some detail in Steindorff, op. cit., pl. 117 (right of seine).