Coracles of Britain, Ireland, and Wales
Descriptions and pictures of coracles, their use, and how to fish from them from the Badminton Magazine of Sports and Pastimes.
From: Unknown To: 1903 C.E.
Location: United Kingdom; Ireland
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
The Coracle and the Angler
By C. Bingham Newland, 1903.
When fishing over large expanses of water, such as lakes, lochs, and wide rivers, fish can only be approached by means of some kind of boat. In most cases this implies a boatman, sometimes two; thus it may be that to effect the capture of one fish, the combined efforts of three men are required, a proceeding that sounds unfair to the fish. Though not actually unsportsmanlike, yet, in my estimation, the system falls short of ideal boat-angling. When, however, the angler in his own person undertakes the entire responsibility, that is to say "paddles his own canoe" whilst fishing at the same time, then there is no question as to the equality of the contest, and in consequence the sport is more satisfactory. Such kind of angling can only be effectively achieved by the aid of a queer little vessel known as the coracle.
The Welsh coracle is essentially a craft which when used for fishing purposes admits of no assistant boatman, though at a pinch a passenger may be safely ferried across a river. Any-one accustomed to this cockleshell of a boat has an immense advantage when fishing deep water overhung by bushes. Before proceeding, however, I will give a short description of the bark itself. In form and shape it resembles the half of a walnut shell; add to this a strip of wood across it from side to side, and there you have almost an exact model. To propel it a narrow, single-bladed paddle is used.
The coracle is the simplest form of boat conceivable; and yet, for the purposes to which it is put, nothing can possibly serve better. I should say, without doubt, the coracle was the "common stock" from which all other vessels have evolved. It is the boat of the ancient Briton, who, we are told, stretched the skins of beasts over the framework, which no doubt answered just as well as the tarred canvas now in use.
The coracle is made and used almost exclusively in Wales and the bordering country; the Irish boat of this name, though equally primitive, is of totally different form. There are many, including anglers, who have never seen or even heard of a coracle, so that its use in connection with the fly rod is by no means generally understood; indeed, those who practise this sort of fishing are few and far between. Having the advantage of many years' coracling experience, an account of the method of proceeding may therefore be of interest.
At first sight one wonders how such a primitive and apparently unsafe boat can have survived; but the reason of its existence is easily understood when observing a couple of these little crafts, manned by natives, and at work on rivers such as the Towy and Teifi in South Wales. They may be seen floating down stream in pairs, and for the moment the uninitiated observer is at a loss to know what they are about; but on closer inspection each man is seen holding a line whilst paddling with his disengaged arm. This line, connecting the two coracles, supports a net, which sweeps the bottom of the river in the form of a crescent, and woe to Salmon salar when its deadly meshes encircle him. Many salmon and sewen are captured in this way, and I am bound to say that if any kind of netting can be classed as sport, this is out and out the most sporting method.
This, then, is the primary reason and purpose of the coracle, and we shall see to what use the fly-fisher can turn it. But before attempting to take a rod on board, the man must first prove himself a master of the craft. The novice should learn to sit a coracle properly, and then practise the use of the paddle, which may be worked with both hands, or either arm singly; for angling purposes this latter is essential. When once he feels at home in a coracle there is little danger of a person being capsized; it is not nearly as unsafe as at first sight appears; all, however, depends on sitting in the centre and keeping one's legs wide apart with a foot firmly planted in either corner of what may be called the bows.
When an upset does occur, it is generally on embarking or debarking; this certainly requires practice, especially when the vessel is floating on deep and perhaps moving water, and there is no suitable place to ground her. However, with a little confidence the difficulty is easily overcome, always bearing in mind that a true balance must be kept; this implies that at the critical moment, as the foot touches the bottom lathes, the whole weight of the body should be instantly thrown on the centre of the board (thwart).
The most awkward embarkation is from the water itself; for instance, supposing the angler to be wading alongside of his coracle in deepish water, and that he wishes to resume his seat, he may find it a somewhat difficult matter. Nevertheless, it can be done, and should be practised. The method I have adopted is as follows:—After having put in the rod securely, stand at the side of the coracle and grasp the edges of the board with both hands as far along as can be reached, then make the best spring you can manage under the circumstances (the circumstances being waders and perhaps an uneven bottom), and drag yourself along the board. Of course, the coracle cocks up until nearly gunwale under, but, if smart, you can just save it without shipping water; only there must be no mistake, or a ducking is likely to ensue.
...The word "Coracle" is, I believe, purely Welsh, and in that language is spelt "Corwgl," meaning any round body or vessel.
Watson, Alfred Edward Thomas, 1849-1922. The Badminton Magazine of Sports And Pastimes Jan-June 1903 Volume 16. London: Longmans, Green, and Co.
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