Evolving Fish Traps

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Medium

enamel on board

 

Dotted along the north coast of Tasmania are numerous fish traps. Driving east from Penguin at low tide and with the guidance from the present day custodian I was thrilled to find a well maintained example.
After painting from the beach that morning, I later changed to an off shore orientation to include the present day railway line and hillside paddocks (indication of the vast changes to our island countryside). However, the evidence of thousands of years of trapping and keeping fish stands proud in the foreground. I’m imagining abundant fish collected and whole families nourished from the ‘catch of the day’.