A corf (pl. corves) also spelt corve (pl. corves) is a container of wood, net, chicken wire, metal or plastic used to contain live fish, eels or crustaceans (such as crayfish) underwater, at docks or in fishing boats.[1][2]
Origin of term
edit1350–1400; Middle English from Dutch and German Korb, ultimately borrowed from Latin corbis basket;[3] cf. corbeil
History
editCorves were originally crucial to keep captured fish fresh until the boat with the catch reached its harbor.[4] A corf could be towed behind the boat while fishermen made the journey from the fishing grounds to the fish market. These journeys could last up to half a day.[5] When used for storing eels in Blekinge, Sweden, the corves could be as large as 3.75 by 1.33 by 0.8 m (12 ft 3+5⁄8 in by 4 ft 4+3⁄8 in by 2 ft 7+1⁄2 in) and contain about 2 metric tons (2.2 short tons; 2.0 long tons) of eels. They would be anchored approximately 100 m (330 ft) from land in an area where the water circulation was good to keep the eels alive.[6] Smaller corves were often used in fishing boats to keep live bait for longline fishing.[4]
The corf could also be built into the boat, and sometimes be a significant part of it.[4] Fishing boats with a well amidships where water is circulated through small holes in the hull are known as well smacks.[7][8]
In present days corves used for this purpose have commonly been replaced by refrigeration and freezing.[9]
Building
editA corf-house is a small building or shed constructed for commercial curing of fish, mostly salmon, in. It is also used to store nets and fishing equipment in.[3] One such house is the listed By Lovat Bridge Corf House in Beauly, Scotland.[10]
Modern use
editCorves are mainly used by recreational fishermen and mass-produced in plastic netting or metal.[11][12] Their use is regulated through laws and regulations in some countries such as Sweden,[13][14][15] and Australia.[16]
Modern fishing boats often have integral corves. These are built into the boat and the water in them kept fresh and oxygenated through a circulatory system with water and air pumps. This kind of corf is called a livewell.[17][18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Fisheries management (general) regulations 2007-reg 3". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ Strömquist, Siv (6 April 2003). "Sumpad sump i sumpen" [Lost used coffee grounds in the corf]. Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ a b Jamieson, John (1840). An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language (2 ed.). W. Tait. p. 245.
- ^ a b c Kjellgren, Joachim (22 August 2013). "Ovanligt träföremål i vår frågelåda" [Question about an unusual object]. www.murberget.se. Länsmuseet Västernorrland. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "History". www.leroyseafood.com. Lerøy. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Fisksump/ålsump från Truseryd". www.blekingemuseum.se. Blekinge museum. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Lars. "Åländsk fisksump" [Well smack from Åland]. www.tugboatlars.se. tugboatlars.se. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Well smack for driftnet fishing K. 1213 De tre brødre from Kalvehave". www.fimus.dk. Fisheries and Maritime Museum, Esbjerg. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ Johnston, W.A.; Nicholson, A.Roger; Stroud, G.D. (1994). Freezing and refrigerated storage in fisheries. Aberdeen: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 13.1. ISBN 92-5-103579-2.
- ^ "By Lovat Bridge Corf House, Beauly". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. BritishListedBuildings. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Fisksump" [Corf]. www.malco.se. Malco. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Strömmings sköljare metall" [Herring corf, metal]. www.sumpansfiske.se. Sundbybergs Sportfiske. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Generella villkor" [General terms]. www.fiskekort.se. Sveriges Sportfiske- och Fiskevårdsförbund. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Fiskelag (1993:787)" [Laws on fishing (1993:787)]. www.notisum.se. Notisum AB. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Fiskeregler i havet" [Fishing regulations at sea] (PDF). www.lansstyrelsen.se. County administrative boards of Sweden. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Fisheries (General) Regulations 2000" (PDF). www.legislation.sa.gov.au. Government of Australia. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Hur man installerar en fisktanks Aerator Pump" [How to install a livewell aerator pump]. www.drelkins.com. Drelkins. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "Arvor 250 AS". www.gbm.se. GBM Marin AB. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
External links
edit
The dictionary definition of corf at Wiktionary
