  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
 |
 |
|
|
Back |
|
River Severn |
|
Watery Worlds |
|
At Work on the River |
|
Pleasure on the Severn |
|
Crossing the Severn |
|
Flood |
 |
Fishing |
Fishing |
|
|
Commercial fishing could only ever be done at certain times of the year because these creatures all live in the sea and only come to Gloucester seasonally to breed.
|
Eels - They come to Gloucester all the way from the Caribbean where they live. They are caught with "spears" and "traps"
Elvers - baby eels local delicacy, more in Severn than any other river in Britain They are caught at night with "stick", "net" and "sack".
Lamprey - These are parasites who stick themselves onto other fish for most of their lives.
Today hardly anybody eats them but in the Middle Ages they were a popular food, and Gloucester was famous for having the very best. Gloucester lampreys were so tasty that King John fined the City for not sending him enough, and Henry I ate so many that he died! They can be caught with "lampern wheels"
Salmon - Salmon were common and used to be caught from a "punt", sometimes with a "lave net", "putcher", "molly knocker" or a "hard bottom".
Gloucester Histories > River Severn > Fishing