Maltese fishermen have used a traditional Mediterranean, high prowed boat (known here as a dghajsa) from ancient times. These brightly painted wooden boats which can be rowed, sailed or powered by an engine continue to be built.
It is interesting that in this most Catholic of nations, the majority of boats display the "Eye of Horus" (named for the ancient, pre-Christian Egyptian god). It is a traditional form of protection for those who venture on the water.
With the serious decline of fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea, fishing, as a significant Maltese way of life and source of income, has all but disappeared. Fish are now expensive in Malta, as elsewhere.
