In the early decades of the 19th century traditional fishing
methods were turned on its head with the introduction of the Scotch Weir to
Ireland. The origins are confirmed by the name, and the method of fishing
is typified by what remains of the Woodstown weir near the mouth of the
Waterford harbour.
methods were turned on its head with the introduction of the Scotch Weir to
Ireland. The origins are confirmed by the name, and the method of fishing
is typified by what remains of the Woodstown weir near the mouth of the
Waterford harbour.
 |
| Woodstown weir, circa 1960. Sense of the size of it. with thanks to Brendan Grogan |
We’ve looked at the use of head weirs in
the harbour before. But weirs were not a distinct and uniform fishing
engine. Weirs have been in use in various forms in Ireland since the 5th century. The foremost expert
was Arthur Went who catalogued not just the methods
but the dispersal of them. Many names
are associated with weirs including head weirs, fly weirs, bag weirs and
scotch/stake weirs. And there is undoubtedly
many local variations and common names. Waterford harbour was the foremost location,
and the head weirs, for which we should be very proud, were considered to date
from at least the arrival of the Normans. The
remaining weirs form a unique, but unappreciated, fishery heritage treasure.[i]
the harbour before. But weirs were not a distinct and uniform fishing
engine. Weirs have been in use in various forms in Ireland since the 5th century. The foremost expert
was Arthur Went who catalogued not just the methods
but the dispersal of them. Many names
are associated with weirs including head weirs, fly weirs, bag weirs and
scotch/stake weirs. And there is undoubtedly
many local variations and common names. Waterford harbour was the foremost location,
and the head weirs, for which we should be very proud, were considered to date
from at least the arrival of the Normans. The
remaining weirs form a unique, but unappreciated, fishery heritage treasure.[i]
But weirs such as
those at Woodstown were anything but “traditional” in an overall sense. Although the technology was centuries old, the traditional methods were a
more sustainable and controlled fishing practice, with some rules such as the
Queens (or Kings) pass (a gap allowing passage of fish up or down river) dating
in origins to the Magna
Carta. The Scotch Weirs originated in a different time, and responded to an
improved method of using Ice to keep fish fresh. The process was introduced from China by a man
called Dalrymple. [ii]
those at Woodstown were anything but “traditional” in an overall sense. Although the technology was centuries old, the traditional methods were a
more sustainable and controlled fishing practice, with some rules such as the
Queens (or Kings) pass (a gap allowing passage of fish up or down river) dating
in origins to the Magna
Carta. The Scotch Weirs originated in a different time, and responded to an
improved method of using Ice to keep fish fresh. The process was introduced from China by a man
called Dalrymple. [ii]
The new ice
preserving method resulted in the ability to transport fish over longer
distances. As a result, the time honoured control
over the numbers of salmon caught were no longer necessary. The Scotch
weir allowed for hundreds of fish to be taken at a time, and the nets could fish all
tides and all weathers (the weekend closure was still enforced however). The basic design was as depicted at Woodstown.
preserving method resulted in the ability to transport fish over longer
distances. As a result, the time honoured control
over the numbers of salmon caught were no longer necessary. The Scotch
weir allowed for hundreds of fish to be taken at a time, and the nets could fish all
tides and all weathers (the weekend closure was still enforced however). The basic design was as depicted at Woodstown.
 |
| A sketch of a scotch weir. note that local varations in design were common |
A line of poles
ran perpendicular to the shoreline, as far and just beyond the
“spring” low water mark. To these poles was attached netting, which
guided or lead fish out to deep water. At the end they entered a netting
box, with nooks into which the fish butted their heads. Once trapped like
this, the fish rarely tried to extricate themselves, but remained to be
captured either via a dip net or by hand once the tide had dropped away at low
water.
The scotch weirs
were generally instigated by the landed gentry, who realised the vast financial
killing to be made. Although traditional
nets-men may have complained, initially the weirs were erected unopposed.
However, the plight of the traditional nets-men, anglers and some
shipping and boating interests led to parliamentary committee hearings, and
court cases.
were generally instigated by the landed gentry, who realised the vast financial
killing to be made. Although traditional
nets-men may have complained, initially the weirs were erected unopposed.
However, the plight of the traditional nets-men, anglers and some
shipping and boating interests led to parliamentary committee hearings, and
court cases.
 |
| Some fishermen at work at Woodstown with the weir in the backgrond with netting attached ot the leader. Photo via Bill Irish collection in A Century of Trade & Enterprise in Ireland |
Generally to no
avail however. for then (as now) the powers that be were either ambivalent or
wholly ignorant to the realities of the practice. At hearings the landlords could call witness after
witness to say that weirs had been in use for millennia. Laws, when they
came, were considered by many to be too little too late. Some of the
weirs were removed whilst others were permitted to continue to fish, the
Woodstown weir operated into the 1960’s I’m told. Two other weirs based
on a similar design, but much smaller in size, operated in the Kings Channel
into the 1990’s.
avail however. for then (as now) the powers that be were either ambivalent or
wholly ignorant to the realities of the practice. At hearings the landlords could call witness after
witness to say that weirs had been in use for millennia. Laws, when they
came, were considered by many to be too little too late. Some of the
weirs were removed whilst others were permitted to continue to fish, the
Woodstown weir operated into the 1960’s I’m told. Two other weirs based
on a similar design, but much smaller in size, operated in the Kings Channel
into the 1990’s.
Today only a few
poles remain of the Woodstown Weir and beyond low water, some paraphernalia
remains of the netting box. The site is now two centuries old and worthy
of interpretation at least.
poles remain of the Woodstown Weir and beyond low water, some paraphernalia
remains of the netting box. The site is now two centuries old and worthy
of interpretation at least.
If you want some sense of the
weir fishing method practiced at Woodstown, heres a link of how it operates from present day Nova Scotia
weir fishing method practiced at Woodstown, heres a link of how it operates from present day Nova Scotia
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