==Freshwater Fish==
We know from [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish#Fisherman|Aelfric’s Colloquy]] that the Anglo-Saxon fisherman would catch “whatever was available”. Aelfric’s fisherman lists pike, minnows, dace, lamprey and sprats. To this list can be also be added carp. <br>
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==Migratory Fish==
These are fish that travel between the sea and fresh water rivers and lakes as part of its lifecycle. Examples include the European eel, salmon, trout, smelt and flatfish. The fisherman from [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish#Fisherman|Aelfric’s Colloquy]] mentions catching eels and smelt in rivers and salmon and flatfish in the sea.<br>
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==Marine Fish==
Again the fisherman from [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish#Fisherman|Aelfric’s Colloquy]] helpfully supplies us with a list of marine fish that he catches: herring, salmon, sturgeon, and plaice. The marine family of fish known as gadid include cod, haddock, whiting and Pollock and come from the colder more northerly parts of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It is this latter group that was traded as stockfish by the Norwegians.<br>
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==Shellfish==
The fisherman from [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish#Fisherman|Aelfric’s Colloquy]] mentions oysters, crabs, mussels, cockles and lobsters as all being caught by him in the sea. Bede also mentions shellfish and mussels that contain pearls as well as whelks from which scarlet dye is made. This list follows on from other edible species (whale, seal and porpoise), possibly indicating these too were eaten. [HAGAN 2006]<br>
At York oysters were eaten in significant numbers much as they had been since the Roman era. Cockles, mussels and winkles were also harvested but in much smaller numbers [HALL 1984: p.94]. In fact so many oyster shells were recovered at York that once catalogued they were given away to visitors of the dig as souvenirs.
Remains of various molluscs have been found at numerous archaeological sites near the coast: Bishopstone, Sussex; Portchester Castle; Poole, Dorset; Braunton Burrows, North Dorset; Mawgan Porth, Cornwall; Gosport House, Hampshir; and Ipswich. [HAGAN 2006:p.169]<br>
===Whales and porpoises===
In [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:fish#Fisherman|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 & ROGERS 1999] and a board (the use of which is debated) found at Ely [BJORN & 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>
Look, you would even lose your butter and cheese, and you can’t even enjoy your vegetables without making use of me.<br>
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The Salter in [[Aelfric’s Colloquy:#Salter|Aelfric’s Colloquy]]<br>
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