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Calabrian coast
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The first, described by the historian Polybius greek (and reported by Strabo), dates back at least to the second century BC It sfruttava for sighting the rocky hills to peak in the stretch of coast between Scylla, Bagnara and Palmi, on each of which was placed a man sight acutissima, which has a height ranging from the 80 and 150 meters, could check a large mirror sea, corresponding to a "well-placed" given its borders. The avvistatore, see the fish, he noted the presence (with shouts and the movements of a wind vane) to the crew of a small boat called "special luntro ', which was waiting at the foot of each observatory and you launched fast in the direction indicated. While on the lookout continued to provide voice guidance on the position of the fish, the task of directing more accurately the "luntro was recruited by one of the fishermen aboard, which saliva on a tree placed at the centre of the small boat and it was in so that the lanzaturi reached a useful distance from prey. At that point, the fish was almost arpionato with the same technique and with the same tool used today. This vessel, whose name probably derives from the typical Latin term "linter" (boat), the time of Polybius and Strabo (ie between the second century BC and the first century AD) was a tiny vessel whose crew was made up of two just men, a oarsmen and a pitcher placed on the bow, and the speed had to be very poor and therefore very limited its operational effectiveness. In fact, the fishing technique of the time was not based on its ability to attack, but rather the likelihood that swordfish were surprised firm in priblievale outcropping or recklessly to one of the many boats on patrol. Instead the historical sources of Five-seventeenth century luntre describe as "boat from attack, led by more paddlers and fast, able to operate in isolation with the help of only a lookout and successfully chase swordfish during its evolution, browsing also against the current (it is well known that currents of the Straits are often very strong and also reach seven knots). In fact this unique vessel purchases the final form and Its own individuality in the mid-seventeenth century, when describes the exact size of the "Luntre, his equipment, arms and technology for a job, remained unchanged to the present day . From that time onwards it is a typical boat of the Strait of Messina, specifically designed and used for catching swordfish. Agile and elegant, long luntro was 24 palms (m 6.24), off just over 6 palms (m 1.65), high construction cm. 80. Portava a tree in the middle (garriere or farere), slightly bent backward, high m. 3.50, which a avvistatore (farirotu) saliva by some notches in wood circular calls rutedde; hence the man held the fish sighted under careful control in the phase approach, stating exactly movements in the position oarsmen. Its commands were given words with conventional formulas almost ritual, which until the beginning of the Greek hatred were clear Greek etymology (manosso goes out; manano hand right: failure to left hand; stinghela comes to earth). Opportuno indicate at this point that the "luntro" had a curious feature: advanced stern, which was placed on the lanzaturi. The reasons for this are unknown strangeness, but intuitable. The stern first, compared to the bow, gave the pitcher a surface support wider and more stable, as well as closer to the water, then certainly the experience has suggested since ancient fishermen intuition of a well-known principle of hydrodynamic, affermatosi universally only in modern times with the adoption of the "bow bulb (which permits the realization - the same speed - a considerable energy saving driving). I disegni e la tradizionale denominazione della varie parti del luntro, tengono chiaramente conto di questa particolaritą del natante: per esempio il remo pił vicino al lanciatore č detto «remu di puppa», evidenziando il fatto che egli si trova proprio a poppa e non gią forward, as it might appear. It is clear therefore that even in the Corsican description of this list for "stern" the craft descends. The pitcher had at its disposal two tools, "ferru" and "draffinera" used for arpionatura, depending on the type of catch, more or less like the present day. The harpoons were required to support two special media range to set a walled aft, a part called maschitti. The propulsion of this strange boat was insured by four long oars: two astern dell'alberello, both long m. 4.68, called an "remu of puppa" and the other "remu 'nt menzu" two to bow (ie opposite to that of the pitcher), respectively called "stremu" and "paledda" long m. The first and 5.72 m. 5.46 second. These last two oars were clearly enormous size with a length of the boat and had the important function comandarne direction following the flash and spin fish. They were at the heart of two elegant arms, which extend from the sides of the "luntro. About 80 cm. Called "antinopuli. Or "anchinopuli. The oarsmen, until all the nineteenth century (and occasionally even in the early twentieth century) were five, the boat was said then "armed cross" and in that case, while two oars prodieri were handled, one for each, from many men, the other two oars were operated by three fishermen sitting on the same bench. That is the system in vogue jargon was called a 'ssittata: rower Central (called mezziere) had the function to help, according to the needs of now the oarsmen right now to the left. This included, apart from the major driving force, a remarkable turn of speed. From the end of this method on rowing was slowly replaced by another, more simple and inexpensive: the oarsmen were only four, each of which azionava an oar. All vogavano according standing and facing the sense of motion, that is towards the stern. Both propulsion systems were very effective practice: the huge oars, worked masterfully, "luntro to providing a" exceptional speed and a surprising ability evolution, which allow it to tack almost instantly to follow the prey in its sudden and unpredictable movements race. The boat was built in pine, oak and mulberry, with bow and stern affilatissime; at the same time had just ordered starred in order to minimize the surface of living and, consequently, the displacement. The side plating was very thin and light, so much so that a reason in the ancient local chronicles was the relative ease with which the fish could hurt its hole "sword" in his twist, the first to surrender, with serious danger for 'crew. Many old fishermen Riviera peloritana specifically asked, confirmed that such an accident - not today - was not uncommon at "luntro" then all have at least once witnessed or experienced an event like this, or at least have known someone who had personally experienced. The boat was traditionally painted black outside, likely to be less visible to fish, and within green. The best specimens are built in Calabria in Bagnara and Scilla, wherever that is, for many centuries the luntro was used for hunting swordfish. Good boats - however - built in Sicily, in small yards Ganzirni and Riviera. Along the shores of the Strait can still see a couple of examples of "luntri, albeit transformed into ordinary fishing boats. Their elegant lines and unmistakable, even concealing the more than half century of life for everyone, it detects the glorious origin of implacable hunters mečaric! A valuable specimen was a few years ago out of the destruction and purchased by the local administration, who took care of the restoration and was equipped with all the equipment of the past. It has been repeatedly exposed to the public, as splendid historical relic and ethnic. However, despite the enormous interest aroused in recent times the old "luntro" has been somewhat neglected. Recently, however, the Chamber of Messina by the Italian Navy League has taken on the task of repair and safeguard it until you can fix it in a decent fit in a stable structure, which could be the long-awaited Museum of Maritime Tradition Peloritane . While - as we have seen - the coasts of Calabria by Scilla Palmi to offer a significant number of observers comfortable natural for the sighting of swordfish, the Sicilian coast of the Strait is totally devoid thimble prerogative, being mainly flat and sandy. Precisely for this for many centuries along the coast, however, where the presence of swordfish in the months of July and August was well known, it was thought not to try hunting; least in a systematic and intensive. The historical sources, up to the sixteenth century, are totally silent on this issue and therefore, in the absence of data, should consider that this unique fishing activity remained for a long time exclusively Calabria. In Sicily it began to practise when, presentatasi favour the socio-political, someone had the idea - brilliant as simple - to install a long tree on suitable boat moored properly ballasted and, by 'high, as a lookout could scrutinize the sea (both on the surface and in depth) to the discovery of swordfish: more or less as it was by cliffs Calabria. Sightings such artifice with fish, was easy then indicate the position of "men" luntri waiting near the boat-observatory, which, giving, we launched the fast to arpionare prey tested using the same technique fishermen Calabrian . It is likely that this important innovation has been introduced in Messina between the end of the fifteenth and early sixteenth century, then finding widespread in the following centuries. Only starting from this if they speak at length in the travel reports, scientific reports, in the geographic and treated in the annals citizens that we have received. Amazing, in fact, invariably see how the authors of these works speak of the "hunt" swordfish in terms of surprise, describing it rather than a form of economic activity, as a special and original attractiveness of the Strait of Messina. In this respect are many "important personalities" (principles, kings and viceroy), which over the centuries have wanted to try the emotion to attend this feature hunting, or even have practiced directly.
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