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The Coracle - a one person boat with a fascinating ancient history. Coracles (from the Welsh gwrwgl) have a history dating back thousands of years. The coracle was originally covered with animal skins and in some countries they are still made this way.  .
A Brief History The one person boat called the Coracle has been in use in the British Isles from pre-Roman times. Whilst their prime use is for the purposes of transport and fishing, it has been recorded that they have been used both militarily and even by the security forces. There is clear evidence that Wellington used them during his campaigns in India, and in the same country last year an Indian newspaper showed a photograph of an Indian coracle being used in the pursuit of a dangerous criminal. Coracles are distinguished from other river craft by their weight, construction and propulsion. The coracles are traditionally made of willow and ash laths and covered with calico or canvas impregnated with pitch and tar or, more recently, bitumastic paint. They weigh between 25 and 40 pounds and so can be carried on the shoulders of the coracle man who frequently, in the case of the fisherman, would walk 5 - 10 miles before drifting down with the current. They are invariably propelled with a single paddle held in two hands over the bow, executing a figure of 8 movement. Fishermen use a similar stroke but with one hand only over the side of the craft, permitting the holding of the net in the other. Coracles are to be found, not only in the British Isles and Ireland, but can be seen in India, Vietnam and Tibet. Until very recently they were to be found in Iraq and reports, currently unverified, exist of them in Norway and close to Chernobyl. In the main Coracles are mainly used for net fishing, with the net being held between two coracles which drift down with the current, taking a salmon or sewin at restricted times of the year. All these coracles, however, have to be licensed. Their numbers are dwindling rapidly. There remain traditional coracle builders on the Severn at Iron-Bridge and Shrewsbury.  |