Bárdosi János: A magyar Fertő halászata. A Soproni Múzeum kiadványai 1. (Sopron, 1994)

Summary

winter under the ice. The smaller dragnet is handled by two men, who drag it wading in the water. The net with double meshes (Spiegelnetz) is in use in two sizes. The bigger one is handled as a dragnet, but needs only two fishermen with one boat, while the smaller type is an implement more like a sweep-net used for cast-fishing. It is cast down in the reeds or between clumps of reed. One can also shut off chanels with it, and drive the fish there, where they get caught by the double meshes. The ringed thread-net (Ringwunton), a kind of adjustable net, has been in use on the lake only since 1956, and was brought over from Lake Velence. Nevertheless, its construction and meshing is described with the same elaborateness as the other implements. The square fishing-net which was widespread in the country, and denominated with various names, as well as the dipping-net (Peer) known from Lake Velence which was in use till the end of the 1920-s to catch fish „bubbling" on the surface of the water on hot summer days, were all implements for lifting fishing. The easiest way of groping fishing was tickling, but on Lake Fertő the use of covers was also widespread. Since the lake is a national boundary, there were no prohibitions of fishing, and therefore covers could be used to catch even spawning fish. The study gives an accurate description of the making and usage of such implements. Harpoons were also still in use, moreover in a special form unknown anywhere else resembling a comb, which cut sidewards. In Western Europe this type is used for eelfishing. Here it is obviously of German origin, and its occurrence at Lake Fertő can be due to the extremely muddy, loose bottom. Angling is not significant, only the single pike-hook used by Hungarians, as well as the ledger-hook used for carp by Germans is worth mentioning, but they used no bottom-line at all. The right for fishing lay till 1945 with the landowners of the coast who leased it out by auction to corporations of fishermen, or in case of smaller territories, to smallholder fishermen. Well-to-do farmers could also take the right for fishing on lease, and worked with hired fishermen. After 1945 waters were brought under state control, so one had to take on leases from the state, afterwards in 1953 a cooperative was established. The sale of the fish could be performed in many ways: 1. it could be sold at home, 2. fishermen could peddle them in the neighbourhood, 3. it could be sold on markets, 4. it could be bought up by merchants, 5. it could be transported to the merchants by rail. In earlier centuries market for fish from the Fertő ranged as far as Vienna. The cooperative established in 1953 covered the whole territory of the lake in Hungary. The implements belonged to the fishermen, but the cooperative was responsible for the sale. They settled account for the fish taken over from the fishermen: 70% of the day price was paid to them which was distributed equally among those working in the brigade. 60% was paid for labour-money, 10% for the use of the implements. The chapter on „fishermen's life" gives an account on the social status, stratification, living conditions, financial status and beliefs of fishermen. The description of the fisherman's hut especially deserves our attention. The hut built on piles was used for having a rest, they cooked fish-soup here, they roasted fish on the spit and made other dishes of fish which were also described by the author. 206