Eel buck
Eel bucks or eel baskets are a type of fish trap that was prevalent in the River Thames in England up to the 20th century. It was used particularly to catch eels which were a staple part of the London diet.
Eel bucks were baskets made of willow wood, and were often strung together in a fishing weir. Construction of such weirs was outlawed under the terms of Magna Carta
- All fish-weirs shall be removed from the Thames, the Medway, and throughout the whole of England, except on the sea coast.[1]
However the practice continued unabated, often with adverse effects on navigation.
Several islands in the River Thames reflect the presence of bucks at those points - for example Buck Ait and Handbuck Eyot.[2]
A surviving eel buck may be seen on the River Test at 51°7′48″N 1°29′5″W / 51.13000°N 1.48472°W.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ The Text of Magna Carta, see paragraph 33.
- ↑ Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
- ↑ The Fine Art of Trapping Eels, The Fishing Museum online, retrieved 19 May 2012
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Wildlife and animal trapping | ||
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| Terrestrial animals |  | |
| Insects and invertebrates | ||
| Birds and bats | ||
| Fishing | ||
| Related articles | ||
 Media related to Traps at Wikimedia Commons | ||
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