Who wants to catch a delicious dish -
A slippery, scaly, shiny fish?
It’s a trickier prospect than you might think,
Fishing a fish up out of the drink.
You can use some stones to build a wall;
Dam the river to catch them all,
Or lure a fish with a feathery fly-
(Really a hook in a clever disguise).
You can tickle a fish until its asleep -
And grab it, quick! It’s yours to keep.
Now, throwing spears can be a hoot,
But it’s rather tricky to miss your foot…(ouch!)
Try submerging a trap of woven grass,
With a narrow neck fish cannot pass.
In Asia, (smart – you must agree)
Birds are trained to fetch fish from the sea.
Eskimos fish through a hole in the ice;
Others use nets to catch loads in a trice.
Now I know all these methods sound really tops,
But the best by far is a fish-and-chips shop!
From the Powerhouse Museum’s collection:
Earthenware vase, c 1914
This Doulton vase, with its striking ‘rouge flambe’ glaze, is handpainted with fish and flowers. Fish have been used as decoration in many different cultures. Take a closer look.
This vase was featured in the exhibition Inspired! Design across time along with other lovely fishy objects.