Hunting-Fishing Economy: Principles Governing Production, Distribution and Exchange | Anthropology Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Distribution

• The hunting-fishing economy is considered the second oldest type of economy, having emerged around 11,000 years ago. While fishing as a practice has been around for at least 35,000 years, it was only 11,000 years ago that hunting-fishing became the primary source of livelihood for certain societies. These societies, primarily located near coastlines, lakes, and rivers, rely on fish as their main food source, using arrows, harpoons, spears, and traps to catch them. They also hunt land animals for sustenance, which is why they are referred to as both hunters and fishers.
• Tribal societies that depend on hunting and fishing can be considered specialized hunting and gathering societies that have adapted to aquatic environments rather than terrestrial ones. They occupy a middle ground between traditional hunting and gathering societies and horticultural societies.
• In modern times, hunting-fishing economies can be found in the northwestern regions of North America, such as Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, and the Arctic regions of Canada. There are also isolated instances of such societies in northern Asia, the Pacific Islands of Polynesia and Micronesia, and scattered areas of Africa and South America.

Examples

• Indigenous tribes residing in the North-Pacific Coast of North America, stretching from Northern California to Western Alaska, rely on hunting and fishing for their sustenance. Examples of these tribes include the Blackfoot, Lbellacoola, Haida, Kwakiutil, Nootka, and Tlingit Red Indians, as well as the Braffinland and Alaskan Eskimos. Another tribe, the Copper Eskimo of Northern Canada, also primarily depends on hunting and fishing.
• In the lowlands of South America, some Red Indian tribes living near rivers rely heavily on fishing for their protein intake, although they also engage in hunting. Some of these tribes are the Alaculuf, Chono, and Yahgan (or Yaghen) Red Indians, who inhabit the coastline of Chile.
• In Africa, tribes residing in Dahomey, Ivory Coast, and various locations along the West Coast primarily depend on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods.
• Inhabitants of the Pacific Islands in Polynesia and Micronesia cultivate a variety of crops and raise pigs, but they primarily rely on fish as their main source of protein. This is particularly true on smaller coral atolls where large lagoons, surrounded by reefs, serve as significant breeding grounds for edible fish. The reefs also provide protection from the high seas, making fishing within the lagoons safe.

Characteristics

• The hunting-fishing economy is typically associated with a sedentary lifestyle. While hunting and gathering tribes often have to be nomadic or semi-nomadic, fishing communities tend to have permanent settlements due to a more stable and abundant food supply provided by fishing.
• Fishing societies can support higher population densities compared to other types of economies. This is because there is a large amount of food available in close proximity to shoreline villages.
• Large, self-sufficient local groups are a characteristic of hunting-fishing economies. As these societies have the ability to support larger, more settled populations, local groups usually consist of villages located near the sea. For example, among the North-West Coast Indians, each village can contain up to 1500-2000 people.
• Hunting-fishing economies have complex economic resources, including technology, division of labor, land ownership, and capital. This involves the use of various tools and equipment for hunting and fishing, such as canoes, harpoons, spears, nets, hooks, and traps. The division of labor is based on age, sex, and specialization, with men typically involved in fishing and hunting activities, while women gather other food sources. Some individuals may also specialize in crafts like woodworking, canoe-building, and basket-making.
• A hunting-fishing economy often provides an abundant and diverse diet, including various types of fish, shellfish, and marine animals. This results in a diet rich in protein and nutrients.
• Surplus production and trade are common characteristics of hunting-fishing economies. Fish can be easily stored when dried or smoked, and when combined with other food sources, such as gathering, hunting, and farming, a surplus can be produced. This surplus can be traded or sold for other goods, leading to trade activities in fishing societies.
• Formal political leadership is more prevalent in fishing societies compared to hunting and gathering societies. In fishing economies, work parties are organized under a leader, and distribution of resources is unequal, with the leader receiving a larger share. This creates a hierarchy of formal leaders responsible for maintaining village and tribal cohesion.

Conclusion

The hunting-fishing economy is a specialized type of economy that primarily relies on fishing and hunting for sustenance. These societies emerged around 11,000 years ago and can be found in various parts of the world, including North America, Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands. Key characteristics of hunting-fishing economies include a sedentary lifestyle, higher population densities, large self-sufficient local groups, complex economic resources, diverse diets, surplus production and trade, and formal political leadership. Fishing societies occupy a middle ground between traditional hunting and gathering societies and horticultural societies, highlighting their adaptability and resilience over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Hunting-Fishing Economy

When did the hunting-fishing economy emerge?

The hunting-fishing economy emerged around 11,000 years ago, making it the second oldest type of economy after hunting and gathering.

Where can hunting-fishing economies be found today?

In modern times, hunting-fishing economies can be found in the northwestern regions of North America, such as Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, and the Arctic regions of Canada. There are also isolated instances of such societies in northern Asia, the Pacific Islands of Polynesia and Micronesia, and scattered areas of Africa and South America.

What are some examples of tribes that rely on a hunting-fishing economy?

Examples of tribes that rely on a hunting-fishing economy include the Blackfoot, Lbellacoola, Haida, Kwakiutil, Nootka, and Tlingit Red Indians, as well as the Braffinland and Alaskan Eskimos. In South America, some Red Indian tribes like the Alaculuf, Chono, and Yahgan also rely on hunting and fishing.

What are some key characteristics of hunting-fishing economies?

Key characteristics of hunting-fishing economies include a sedentary lifestyle, higher population densities, large self-sufficient local groups, complex economic resources, an abundant and diverse diet, surplus production and trade, and formal political leadership.