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, or (such as crayfish) underwater, at docks or in Fishing vessel.
Origin of term
1350–1400; Middle English from Dutch and German
Korb, ultimately borrowed from Latin
corbis basket;
cf.
corbeil
History
Corves were originally crucial to keep captured fish fresh until the boat with the catch reached its harbor.
A corf could be towed behind the boat while fishermen made the journey from the
Fishery to the
fish market. These journeys could last up to half a day.
When used for storing eels in
Blekinge, Sweden, the corves could be as large as and contain about of eels. They would be anchored approximately from land in an area where the water circulation was good to keep the eels alive.
Smaller corves were often used in fishing boats to keep live bait for
longline fishing.
The corf could also be built into the boat, and sometimes be a significant part of it.
In present days corves used for this purpose have commonly been replaced by refrigeration and freezing.
Building
A 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.
One such house is the
Listed building By Lovat Bridge Corf House in
Beauly, Scotland.
Modern use
Corves are mainly used by recreational fishermen and mass-produced in plastic netting or metal.
Their use is regulated through laws and regulations in some countries such as Sweden,
and Australia.
Modern Pleasure craft often have integral corves. These are built into the boat and the water in them kept fresh and Water aeration through a circulatory system with water and air pumps. This kind of corf is called a livewell.
See also
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