In 1802, a London publisher released a book by the notorious thief turned constable, George Barrington, which gave an account of the early history of New South Wales. It laboured under the title of THE HISTORY of NEW SOUTH WALES including BOTANY BAY, Port Jackson, Parramatta, Sydney, and all its DEPENDANCIES, from the Original Discovery of the Island; with the Customs and Manners of the Natives; and an account of THE ENGLISH COLONY from its FOUNDATION to the PRESENT TIME. Among the descriptions of the Indigenous people was a section describing Aboriginal fishing methods.

The men fish with a fish-gig, or spear, which they are very dexterous in the use of. The fish-gig is about twelve feet long, which they can lengthen by joints, according to the depth of the water. At the end they have two, three, or four barbed prongs, with a hook of a fish or other bone; sometimes, in fine weather, a man will lay across his canoe with his face in or near the water, and his fish-gig ready for darting: thus they watch for prey, and seldom miss their aim.

The women are employed in the canoes with lines and hooks; the lines are made of the bark of trees, the hooks, like those used by the men, are made of bits of shells and birds talons, in one of their miserable canoes, which is seldom more than six inches from the surface of the water, washing the edge nearly in surf, which would frighten many seamen in a good vessel, the youngest child, if very small, lies in its mother’s lap, from whence it cannot fall, though she is busy fishing, as she sits in the bottom of the canoe, with her knees up to her breast; thus, between her knees and body, the child is secure.

The men also dive and procure fish from the rocks under water, where they often remain a considerable time; when rising, to the surface they throw on shore what they have gained, to a person who attends to dress it by broiling on a fire kept ready for the purpose.

Although Barrington described fishing from canoes and by diving from rocks, there were other Aboriginal fishing methods, including fishing from the shore with a string line and hook, the use of nets, and the construction of fish and eel traps.

Barrington was an interesting character and famous rogue who had many brushes with the law before being transported to New South Wales. His personal charm seemed to ingratiate him with powerful patrons and he was soon pardoned, rising to become Chief Constable at Parramatta. Many books were published in his name,  with the publishers exploiting Barrigton’s reputation even after his death in 1804.

Barrington’s book also contained descriptions of colonial agriculture along with price lists for produce and goods in early Sydney. The online version includes updates from a later edition published in 1807. The author of these updates remains unknown.