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I had never encountered the idea that the anchor predated the fish as an iconic symbol among early Christians. It does seem to have been a long time before the cross was common as an iconic symbol, maybe the fourth century, but I'm not certain (I think the song about cherishing the cross is a little strange to ponder myself). The fish symbol has been connected to the idea of baptism, fishing for men, and the parable of the net. It's been suggested that the fish symbol was connected to the use of the Greek word for fish (ichthus) as an acrostic for a profession of faith (the Greek words for Jesus - Christ - Son of - God - Savior begin with the Greek letters I CH TH U S). The use of the fish graffiti is thought to have begun in the second century. Here are a couple of excerpts from different sources. Clement of Alexandria
(c. 150–c. 215)
Teacher in song and symbol
Titus Flavius Clemens was born in the mid-second century, most likely to pagan parents in Athens. Well-educated and a convert to Christianity during his early adult years, Clement traveled widely in search of excellent teachers. This quest led him finally to Alexandria in Egypt, where he became a student of Pantaenus, first known master of the city’s catechetical school (for Christian instruction)...
Clement also advocated the visual arts in worship. Many early Christians were reluctant to do paintings or drawings, fearing attention to their work might constitute idolatry. Clement faced the issue head on and concluded that Christians are not to depict pagan gods (we’re not idolaters), nor sword or bow (we’re peaceful), nor wine cups (we’re temperate), nor reminders of sexual immorality. But Christians could “let our emblem be a dove, or a fish, or a ship running before the wind, or a musician’s lyre, or a ship’s anchor. And if there be a fisherman, he will remind us of an apostle, and little children being drawn up out of the water.”
Excerpt from: Worship in the Early Church: Christian History, Issue 37, (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, Inc.) 1997. In Christian aret and literature the fish is a symbol of Christ, also sometimes of the newly baptized and of the Eucharist (Lord's Supper). It came into use in the 2nd century, but neither its origin nor its meaning have so far been completely elucidated.
Excerpt from : Fish: The Oxford Dictionary of The Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 1989 The earliest identifiably Christian art consists of a few 2nd-century wall and ceiling paintings in the Roman catacombs (underground burial chambers), which continued to be decorated in a sketchy style derived from Roman impressionism through the 4th century. They provide an important record of some aspects of the development of Christian subject matter. The earliest Christian iconography tended to be symbolic. A simple rendering of a fish was sufficient to allude to Christ. Bread and wine invoked the Eucharist. During the 3rd and 4th centuries, in the catacomb paintings and in other manifestations, Christians began to adapt familiar pagan prototypes to new meanings. The early figural representations of Christ, for instance, most often show him as the
good shepherd by directly borrowing from a classical prototype. He was also sometimes depicted in the guise of familiar gods or heroes, such as Apollo or Orpheus. Only later, when the religion itself had achieved some measure of earthly power, did he take on more exalted attributes. Narratives tended at first to be typological, often suggesting parallels between the Old and New Testaments. The earliest scenes from the life of Christ to be depicted were the miracles. The Passion, particularly the Crucifixion itself, was generally avoided until the religion was well established.
Excerpt from Encyclopedia Brittanica
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