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Seine net fishermen, Gwbert, Cardigan
The use of Seine nets for fishing was introduced by the monks of St Dogmaels Priory in the early twelfth century and the nets were still being produced locally in the 20th century.
The Seine nets were described by W. J. Lewis, a local historian, as 'a large fishing net, the upper edge of which was kept near the surface of the water by floats while the remainder was kept upright in the water by weights or sinkers attached to the lower edge'. The Seine nets required large and sturdy boats with a crew of seven to twelve men.
The survival of this method of fishing over the centuries testifies to its effectiveness. Indeed, it is claimed that, in June 1882, twenty boats using the nets caught 85 salmon in one evening.
Source:
W. J. Lewis, Gateway to Wales: A History of Cardigan (Carmarthen, 1990)
