Traditional fishing boat were used for war and trade. Some ancient vessels were propelled by either oars or sail, depending on the speed and direction of the wind (see trireme and bireme). The Chinese were using sails around 3000 BC, of a type that can still be seen on traditional fishing boats sailing off the coast of Vietnam in Ha Long Bay. A jangada is an elegant planked fishing boat used in northern Brazil. It has been claimed the jangada dates back to ancient Greek time. It uses a triangular (lateen) sail, which allows it to sail against the wind. A felucca is
Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River a wonderful harmony on the river. Often, because the position of fishing master is a hereditary position, the helper is the fishing master's son. As cormorant fishing on the Nagara has long gone unchanged, the tools used have generally remained unchanged as well. The largest tool is the cormorant boat (鵜舟 "ubune") itself. This 13-meter boat holds the three riders, the cormorants and the night's catch. Hanging from the front of the boat is an iron basket (篝 "kagari"), which is supported by the fire pole (篝棒 "kagaribō") and holds the fire in front of the boat. That fire (篝火