Fishing Village

Over many years humans have developed a variety of fishing methods from the spear fishing of the Egyptians to the use of fish-cages in Greece. People developed methods that were appropriate to the waters they were fishing and the fish they hoped to catch. The Celtic tribes of Britain and Ireland developed a small river-going vessel known as a 'coracle'. This lightweight, oval boat had a framework of willow rods that were covered with animal skin. Its low weight meant it could be easily carried, allowing fishermen to carry their boats down to the river from their homes. The design of the coracle varied slightly depending on the river where it was to be used. Coracles for tidal rivers, like the Tywi in Wales, were round and deep, whereas those designed for use in rapidly flowing water had shallow, flat bottoms.