Changes
===Fishweirs ===
Wicker baskets used as traps are mentioned in Aelfric’s colloquy. An example of a fishweir from archaeology can be found at Colwick in Nottinghamshire and dated to the 8th or 9th centuries. Weirs were constructed by a V shape of wattle hurdles placed in a river that funnel the fish towards a basket trap. Other archaeological remains have been found at Castle Donington and Lincoln [BOND 2001:p.186]. Artificial fish ponds seem to have been rare before the end of the C11th.<br>
Charter references to inland river fisheries occur from the C7th onwards, often they indicate some form of fixed weir containing traps [BOND 2001:p.186]. Archbishop Wulfstan described the construction of fish weirs on an estate as one of the tasks during summer. There must have been many in C11th England as King Edward the confessor in the 1060’s ordered the destruction of the fisheries that were blocking the flow of the river Thames. [LACEY and DENZIGER DANZIGER 1999:p.59]<br>
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===With Nets ===
Vikings may have introduced some form of drift net which would explain the significant increase in herring bones in late Saxon Ipswich [BOND 2001: p.185] [CRAWFOOT CRAWFORD 2009:p.100]
Along the coast a variety of stake nets and foreshore weirs were used to trap fish from the outgoing tide. [BOND 2001:p.186]<br>
More interestingly remains of molluscs have also been found at inland sites such as
Sedgeford (5 miles inland), Thetford (40 miles) [WILSON 1976:p.389], and in smaller numbers in Bedford (80 miles inland). [HAGAN 2006:p.170]<br>
Saxon sites also produce lots of oysters but these are mostly near the coast or with easy access by river to the coast. Deterioration of the roads with the exit of the invaders and poorer organisation meant that oysters could not be sent far. To date there is still no evidence for farming or cultivation of oysters. [WINDER n.d.2010: p.5]
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It is often suggested that Oyster cultivation was introduced by the Romans but to date no physical or documentary evidence has been found to support this. Lucilius observation is astute as it is indeed often possible to determine the origin of Oyster shells by their appearance as they are affected by their environment. The average size of the oysters eaten by the Anglo-Saxons is slightly but significantly smaller than those from Roman sites. [WINDER 2010 :p.5]<br>At Poole, Dorset a vast midden of oyster shells carbon dated to the late Saxon period represents between 28.56 and 57.12 tonnes of raw oyster meat. No other food remains were found in the midden, indicating the oysters may have been harvested, opened and preserved (pickling or salting) for re-distribution. [HAGAN 2006 :p.169]<br>
No hard evidence has yet come to light for oyster fishing during the Viking Age. Not much in the way of excavated structures or objects. Neither is there much ancient documentary evidence for oyster fishing. Having said this it is likely that oysters were harvested by dredging. Dredging frames today are made from a steel frame with a bag of iron rings towed by a boat. It is said that in the past the bag was sometimes made of slotted cow-hide that caused less damage to the oyster bed. (Winder personnel communication)<br>
Waste oyster shells have a number of uses, they can, for example, be returned to the sea bed as cultch on which oyster spat can settle; used to fertilise (lime) the fields; be used in the manufacture of lime; crushed for chicken feed, shell-tempered pottery, medicines and cosmetics; used as hardcore, for paths and yard surfaces; and used as mortar for stone work. [WINDER 2010: p.3]<br>
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===Whales and porpoises===
In [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish|Aelfric’s Colloquy]] the opportunity of whaling is mentioned in the conversation with the fisherman, but does not appeal to the fishermen because of the danger involved, despite the fortune that can be made from it. This indicates that these large sea mammals were hunted, but to what extent is unclear. Artefacts made from cetacean bone have been found such as the sword pommel and comb at York [MacGREGOR, MAINMAN and ROGERS 1999] and a board (the use of which is debated) found at Ely [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940].<br>
Besides hunting the other method of getting both whale meat and bone is from those animals stranded on the beach. There is a welsh law which states that any fish, dead or alive, washed up on the beach belonged to the king, but if not claimed for three days could be taken by anyone. The three day rule seems not to have applied in England though. [HAGAN 2006: p.165]<br>
The Anglo-Saxon term mereswyn (sea pig) is often mistakenly translated with Dolphin, though the animal is most definitely a Porpoise. Though they both belong to the order of Cetacea, along with whales, they are very different animals. Porpoises are smaller, shyer and live in colder waters of the northern hemisphere, including around the British Isles. Dolphins on the other hand live in the warmer waters of the pacific. <br>
==Trading==
In Anglo-Scandinavian York a roman building was used for fish processing as seen in the compacted layer of scales and bones. It contained about 40,000 fish remains [HALL 1978:p.34], [WENHAM 1987:p.77], [BOND 2001: p.186].<br>
Romans transported oysters inland to towns. Oysters packed correctly can stay fresh for up to 10 days. During the Anglo-Saxon period oysters seem to have been mainly found at their place of origin. This may be due to the deterioration in roads making travel to inland towns difficult within the 10 day window [WINDER n.d.2010:p.5].<br>
First written record C12th – herring salt-cured wet in barrels [BARRETT 2007] <br>
Doomsday book records 68,000 herrings a year being produced at Dunwich [BOND 2001:p.185] <br>
BARRY2003
BELL1977
BJORN1940
BOND2001
CRAWFORD2009
MUELDNER2007
ROESDAHL1992
STONE2007
WENHAM1987
WILSON1976
WINDER2010
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