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George Whittaker collecting salmon from putchers at Goldcliff, circa 1923

Putcher fishing is a type of fishing (usually of salmon) which employs multiple putcher baskets, set in a fixed wooden frame, against the tide in a river estuary, notably on the River Severn, in England and South East Wales. Putchers are placed in rows, standing four or five high, in a wooden "rank" set out against the incoming and/or outgoing tides. [1]

Traditionally the putcher was made of hazel rods with withy ( willow) plait, both materials being grown locally on the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels. Modern baskets made of steel or aluminium wire were introduced in the 1940s and 1950s. [2] [3] [4]

Conical baskets on a wooden frame are also used elsewhere; here, Wagenya, to catch the fish thrown downstream by rapids at the Boyoma Falls (aka: Stanley or Kisangani falls) on the Lualaba River, near Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As in the UK, fishing spots are inherited.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Severn Salmon Boats of the River Severn in Gloucestershire". www.salmonboats.co.uk.
  2. ^ Goldbold, R.C. and Turner, R.C. (with contributions by Hillam, J., Johnson, S. and O'Sullivan, A.), Medieval Fishtraps in the Severn Estuary, Medieval Archaeology, Vol 38, 1994, pp 19-54. Publisher: Maney. ISSN 0076-6097.
  3. ^ ""In the old days you could see the horizon!"". Living Levels. 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ Jenkins, J. Geraint, Commercial Salmon Fishing in Welsh Rivers. Folk Life - Journal of the Society of Folk Life Studies, Vol 9, 1971

External links

Media related to Putchers at Wikimedia Commons