|
For your interest I have attached part an image showing
two coracles in a print by J Hassell entitled 'SALMON FISHERY. A View
from the Rocks of Aberystwith and the bay of Aberystwith' 1798. This seems
a bit odd since coracles are not normally associated with the Ystwyth
or Rheidol, and the image itself is rather odd, although clearly labelled
Aberystwyth, I have found it impossible to identify the exact location.
However, the presence of bathing huts suggest that it can't be far from
the town, and I know of other works by Hassell of Aberystwyth at about
the same time.
Lewis Morris, writing in 1755, says that good salmon were to be caught
on the Rheidol 'Fish not plentiful except salmon'. Corbet Hue, 'Journal
of a Tour through N Wales, 1810, NLW, MS 23218
Rev W Bingley says 'At Aberystwyth the Autumnal fishing for salmon and
sewin is excellent' in the third edition of his book in 1839.
I assume that the fish were killed off by the lead pollution in the river
by the middle of the 19th century.
The following for the Dovey is also of interest.
We passed the Dovey, which flows to the north of Machynlleth and it divides
it from Merionethshire, over an old stone bridge, from which we were gratified
by sight entirely new us, the management of coracles, and the mode of
fishing from them. These little water conveyances are, you know, of high
antiquity, receiving their name from the Coria, all skins, with which
they were originally covered. They have now indeed dropped their right
to this appellation; the course pitched canvas been substituted as a coating
it in the room of leather. Intended to carry only one person each, they
are not more than five feet long, and four broad, rounded at the corners,
and constructed of wickerwork; and are consequently sufficiently light
to be conveyed on the back of the fishermen to his home, when the labour
of the day is concluded. Simple as this construction is, we find the ancient
Britons encountered the waves of the ocean in them, voyaging in their
wicker baskets covered with a leather to the island Mictis; a perilous
undertaking, whether the name be applicable to the Isle of Wight, or to
one of the Cassiterides. the man who manages the coracle is seated exactly
in the centre of it, and directors its motion by the action of a small
paddle, with which it is truly astonishing how completely he commands
this apparently awkward vessel. To Coracles and usually go together in
order to assist each other in fishing; and operation of singular address
and activity, the right hand being employed all the time in paddling,
the left hand in conducting the net, and teeth in holding the line attached
to it. Warner, Richard, Rev (1763-1857) A Walk through Wales in Aug, 1797,
(Bath, 1798), p. 91-2
yours sincerely
Michael Freeman
Curator
Ceredigion Museum
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion Museum website http://museum.ceredigion.gov.uk
|
|
I thought that the following list of pictures which include
coracles might be of interest to you or your colleagues. I have been compiling
these as part of research into objects which appear to be unique, or restricted
to Wales. Although I am aware of their use elsewhere, they were described
and illustrated by many visitors to Wales during the 18th and 19th century
because they were not familar to them.
Artist place date
Grimm Cilgerran 1777
Hassell Aberystwith 1798 (as seeb above)
Anon Teifi 1813 (NLW PB3740)
Peter de Wint Teifi 1849 (Usher Gallery, Lincoln)
Gastineau Cenarth 1830
Gastineau Cardigan 1830
Delamotte Swansea 1805? (NLW on their web site)
Ibbetson Cardiff 1789-1796 Aberdeen Art gallery
Rock and Co Welsh Costumes no 11 1860
Harding, J.W., unidentified, 1810
Hugh Hughes Carmarthen
Hugh Hughes Coracle Makers (National Library, on their web site)
Hugh Hughes Salmon Fishermen
I have digital images of most of these, some down loaded from web sites,
others from our own collections.
Best wishes
Michael Freeman
Ceredigion Museum
Ceredigion Museum website http://museum.ceredigion.gov.uk
|
