SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— H. 391 



Mr. J. Hornell. — The coracles and curraghs of the British Isles (12.20). 



Coracles are small river craft, propelled by paddles ; in shape, round, 

 ovate or sub-rectangular. Curraghs are sea-going boats generally built 

 on the lines of a light skiff and propelled by oars. Both were originally of 

 wicker-work covered with hide, but tarred canvas is now the usual covering 

 upon a frame of crossed laths. 



In Europe they occur to-day only in the British Isles. Lucan mentions 

 the use of coracles on the river Po at the beginning of the Christian era ; 

 classical writers occasionally make passing references and thereby suggest a 

 wider distribution in those days. 



In Wales coracles exist on the rivers in the south-west and on the Dee in 

 the north. In England a bowl-shaped form serves as a ferry-boat on the 

 Severn. In Scotland they were in use from the Hebrides across to the Spey 

 in the second half of the eighteenth century, and in Ireland they linger on 

 the Boyne. To-day, curraghs are restricted to the west coast of Ireland ; 

 the design differs from port to port and in size varies from 8 to 20 ft. in 

 length. 



Prior to the establishment of Roman rule the presence of curraghs 

 throughout Britain is attested by Greek and Roman writers. 



Coracles and curraghs are definite features of Celtic culture in Britain. 

 The former were probably introduced from the continent by early Celtic 

 swarms whereas the curragh is a local adaptation of wattle and hide technique 

 to boat construction. A weighty reason for the initial adoption, and for the 

 persistence to the present day, of the curragh type of vessel must have been 

 that the Celts found in its design one suitable to the rapid and inexpensive 

 construction of a light type of boat, adaptable to many of the purposes for 

 which their Scandinavian neighbours employed plank-built boats superior 

 in many respects to their own dugout canoes. Once the system was adopted, 

 its usefulness would quickly bring about improvement in technique and 

 dimensions, with the increase either of commerce or of raiding. Curraghs 

 are capable of extremely rapid manoeuvring and of higher speed under oars 

 than wooden rowing boats of like size ; hence their employment by coastal 

 pirates as instanced by Sidonius and Gildas. But the vulnerability of the 

 hide cover forbade its use in sea-fights with stouter vessels built of wood. 

 Because of this the clinker-built long ships of the Saxons drove the piratical 

 Celtic curraghs out of the English Channel, and roomy round ships took 

 their place as trading vessels. Only on the wild west coast of Ireland are 

 curraghs still in use because of poverty, reinforced by faith in their good 

 qualities when handled skilfully. 



Afternoon. 



Joint Discussion with Section D (Zoology) (q.v.) on Genetics and the race 

 concept (Section D room) (2.15). 



Saturday, September 12. 



Excursion to Bleasdale, Ribchester, Preston. 



Sunday, September 13. 



Excursion to Furness Abbey, Urswick and Cartmel. 



