New acquisition in Archives -- Fishing Notes, c1900-1931

  • Author(s)
    Vanessa Finney
  • Category
    Museullaneous
  • Published
    28 March 2012
  • Read time
    2 minutes

The notebook, called 'Fishing Notes' on the front cover comes from the collection of Gilbert Whitley, Australian Museum scientist and amateur historian of all things fish or museum. It has the name 'F. Dryden' stamped inside the front cover but no other identifiying information to help trace the book's provenance or history.

Inside the book are beautifully detailed, carefully handwritten copies of quotes on fishing form literature dating back to the 15thC, lists of fishing terms and equipment and some really lovely ink drawings of fishing hooks and knots. The fishing trips listed are all in England, so perhaps the book accompanied its owner to a new life in NSW as it looks like the last entry from 1931 is a quote from the 'Sydney Bulletin'.

Is there really a hook/knot combination called a ‘plaited conger snood’ (see image #3 at right)?!