Danube-Networkers
The fish helped us to survive
Text / Pictures: Gerti Zupanich and Veronika Schnablegger
...the following is told by the oldest fisherman, 83 years old, we met in the Museum for Fishing.
The museum with many exhibits concerning the area of the Danube is situated on the left ashore of the river near Vienna. You can see there not only the biggest and rarest fish, there are also birds and beavers. The museum is run by the members of the private club. They are collecting historic objects of fishing and they like to explain the ecological meaning of fishing to groups of students. They get their only income by giving licence for angling along the Marchfeldkanal connected with the obligation protecting the fish population.
Our questions concerning our topic "Fishery now and in former times" are answered by the oldest member, Mr. Johann Manhart, 83 years old.
Mr. Manhart:
" There was nobody in my family who had the profession of a fisherman, but fishing was an important activity in our life. Especially in times of misery like during the years of 1920 and 1930 and after the 2nd World War fishing helped us to survive. Since generations we are living ashore of the Danube, in Korneuburg and in Schwarzlackenau 1).
Before the river became regulated, it was at the end of 1930, one arm of the Danube reached from km 1936,3 passing Jedlesee 2) to Foridsdorferbrücke. The fishing was easy. The fish caught by my grandfather and my father could be even sold to others or it could be changed for other food. I had 11 uncles, they all were sons of my grandfather, who needed much for food. There were 4 children in our familiy and the income of my father was only an unemployment benefit of 6 shillings. So we often had stewed fish because my mother had no fat for cooking. In spite of this I like fish dishes yet but I hate stewed fish."
"When the dam was built the water disappeared. But water came again, nobody knows where it was coming from, maybe of springs (note: ground-water). There were many pools again. Frogs and toads lived in there. This was the reason why fish population returned again and a further good period for fishing began."
We asked for the time of occupation of Austria during the war. Gerti remembered that there was the Soviet army along the left bank of the Danube.
"Were the Russian soldiers also fishing?"
Mr. Manhart:
"Fishing! They were throwing granats into the water! The fish was torn into pieces! They Russians took only the whole fish. We were diving to find the fish which had sunk down on the ground and took it home."
Veronika:
"Why did some fish sunk and other was swimming on the surface of the river?"
Mr. Manhart:
If the bladder of fish was torn, the fish sank down.
Veronika:
"Is there no fisherwoman?"
Mr. Manhart (hesitating):
There was even one woman fishing with us, but she is already dead."
He continues:
"My father had a net for fishing called Daubelnetz - you can see one in front of the museum - and caught many fish with it. Today you don't use it very often because only few fish is caught with it. In former times there were also Störe and Husen in the river which supply caviar. Now this method 3) of fishing should have a relaunch. Our whole family were fishermen. I am still and have been a fisherman, up to now. Every year I go to Ireland with my son. We are fishing cod and pollak 4). We took 10 kg to Vienna each which is permitted. We put them into bags without bones and then into our suitecases. We took our clothes on board of the plane, we took only a few pieces with us. "
In autumn we return for taking pictures. Mr. Manhart and his son were working for the museum, they were cleaning the bank. Also this is done by members of the club. They could still tell us many stories....
Gerti Zupanich und Veronika Schnablegger
(1) and (2) Schwarzlackenau and Jedlesee are regions along the Danube, in former times it was marshland, after draining it houses were built there.
(3) Daubelfischen is a special type of fishing. These nets are put into the water on a certain spot (fisherman's house, boat etc.) and they are lifted from time to time to get the fish out. Today this style of fishing has become rare. Because of this historical rareness the nets can be placed along the Danube, near of Vienna.
(4) Pollak is a fish which lives in the sea, similar the cod
