Fish
Fish were common throughout the bodies of water in Arda.
History
Fish formed the chief source of food in Númenor, as it was abundant throughout the coast of the island. The fisherfolk dwelt mainly in Nindamos, built on the hards of a marshy land. Mariners of Númenor were mostly drawn from the fisher folk.[2]
When the Númenóreans travelled to Middle-earth, they encountered the primitive tribes there. Though some of them, along the mouths of Morthond and Gwathló, had crude fisheries, they had fallen out of use as its people fled towards the mountains.[3][4] The Stoors that dwelt in the Vales of Anduin also had fish as their main food. Two of them, Déagol and Sméagol, were fishing when they found the One Ring, lost in the river Anduin.[5]
The Gondorians, much like their forefathers, ate fish. The Ethir was populated by fisher-folk, who often went out to sea on boats,[6] because fishing was the most profitable business.[7]
Though Hobbits did not generally hunt or fish for leasure,[8] they did angle for food now and then. One of the favourite spots for anglers was near The Golden Perch, which took its name for the golden fish that swam there.[9]
Names
The Quenya name for "fish" is lingwe (Quenya also has a word for "(small) fish", hala). The Noldorin name, derived from the same root as lingwe, is lhimb or lhim, and Doriathrin has líw.[10]
Portrayal in adaptations
2002: Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Gollum throws a fish called "Xiphiidae" at Aragorn.[11] It becomes Aragorn's most dangerous weapon. Xiphiidae are swordfish. Swordfish are saltwater fish, but that matter is overlooked here.
2006: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar:
- As of the thirteenth book, Doom of the Last-King, fishing became a "hobby", a pastime for players.[12]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Forbidden Pool"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "A Description of the Island of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XVII. Tal-Elmar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XVI. The New Shadow"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Concerning Hobbits"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds.), "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings", in The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, p. 771
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies" (roots KHAL1- and LIW-)
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game), "River Anduin-Amon Hen"
- ↑ "Book 13: Doom of the Last-king – All in Mail, Never Clinking – Fishing in LOTRO", Lotro.com, dated April 15, 2008 (accessed 31 August 2010)
