Object number
63/171
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This eel trap, used for catching eels, was made by Stanley Bird of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and given to the Museum by the Rural Industries Bureau. This type of eel trap was baited, weighted so that it would sink, and tethered to the bank of a river. It is made of white and buff willow and cane. It consists of two long funnels, one inside the other, with a cork bung fitted to the neck to make a non-return valve. The Norfolk eel trap differs in design from both the Fenland eel trap and the River Severn trap. Other names for the eel trap include ‘eel pot’ in Norfolk, ‘putcher’ in Gloucestershire, ‘grig’ in Sussex, the Fens, Oxfordshire and the River Severn, and ‘hive’ in Cambridgeshire.
Physical description
1 trap: wood (willow, cane, cork); good condition.
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: Trap (eel, basketwork) // Acc. No.: 63/171 // Group: FISHING. FRESHWATER. // Neg. no.: 60/5253–2 // Place of origin: Great Yarmouth. Norfolk. // Period in use: Present, from the remote past. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White & buff willow & cane for the fitching & rim. A cork bung was fitted at the neck to make a non-return valve. // Shape and construction: Two long funnels one inside the other. The outside, (white willow) is constructed first, beginning with 30 rods in pairs, these are increased to go after the throat is finished & a spiral of fitching passes twelve times round. The second funnel is made of 90 buff rods, *at the top & fitched with 5 spirals. It is set inside to first funnel & its stakes are scallomed over a heavy ring of cane. Another rim of thick cane is set inside the outer funnel 12” down. // Dimensions: Height 38”. Diam. narrow end: 5 1/4” Diam. wide end: 13” // Use: For trapping eels. It was baited (in Glos. [Gloucestershire] with a piece of rabbit or lamprey) weighted with stones & tethered to the bank of river. // Dialect names: Eel wheel. Glos [Gloucestershire], lower reaches of the Severn, also putcheon. // Distribution: Norfolk. Gloucestershire. // Additional notes: See 63/171 // *brought together at the bottom into a ring to allow the eel to push through.'
Production place
Great Yarmouth
Production date
1925-01-01 - 1974-12-31
Production period
Mid-twentieth century
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5252.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5253.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\63_171_cob.tif - High resolution image
