Eel buck

Eel bucks 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

  1. The Text of Magna Carta, see paragraph 33.
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. The Fine Art of Trapping Eels, The Fishing Museum online, retrieved 19 May 2012