photo: Manchester Evening News
Part of the 20-mile Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Tameside, Greater Manchester, was closed for 36 hours after it was deliberately drained.
Anglers believe the culprits could be immigrants looking for carp - a staple in Central and Eastern Europe - although others have blamed local vandals.
The saboteurs managed to break through security locks fitted to the gates to stamp out illegal tampering. Only boaters have access to the keys.
Alwyn Ogborn, 70, a local resident, said: "I noticed what was happening and reported it to British Waterways.
"It might have been vandalism, but I heard some people let out the water because they want the carp."
Three locks were affected in two incidents over the weekend.
Three locks affected? That'll be two pounds, then, assuming three adjoining locks.
But British Waterways said that the culprits were unlikely to be carp poachers. Edward Fox, BW Head of Communications, is quoted:
"From what I understand it would be a very inefficient way of trying to catch fish, as they detect the increased flow and escape from the pound with the water. There was no evidence of any footprints in the mud, so it seems unlikely on this occasion."
Whatever the reason for the vandalism, it gives an opportunity to have a look at the canal bed. It seems there's a very good depth by the towpath bank retaining wall (technical term?). At first glance I thought I could see a long mud bar dividing two stretches of water, but it must be the lower section of the wall which happens to be the same colour as the water. And what's going on on the side nearer the camera? The stakes look to be securing a low wire mesh. Gabions started but abandoned?
I realised just how many fish live in canals only when we cruised the weedy eastern end of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal five years ago. The weed seems to filter out the suspended mud in the water, enabling you to see the canal bed and lots of fish. Presumably the fish exist in similar quantities in the more common "muddy" canals, where you can't see more than an inch down.
3 comments:
Nerd that I am, I can shed some light on the picture.
The reach in one of the newly rebuilt sections west of Standedge (just below Scout Tunnel I think). As such it has a deep margin beside the towpath and offers one of the rare deepwater moorings in the area.
As for the posts, I think they hold a a wire mesh which anchors and protects plants on the offside.
Finally, Alwyn Ogborn is more than just a local 70 year old resident - he is the editor of the Huddersfield Canal Society's magazing and proud owner oh a newly completed widebeam barge called, I think, Itchy Feet. We met him on our trans Pennine journey last Easter, and he is as enthusiastic about the canal as he is charming.
Andy
Thanks for that, Captain. Now if Granny Buttons had been doing the post he'd have put all that in!
Trust the anglers to blame immigrants (how dare other people try to catch 'their' fish!) and the and everyone else to blame vandals. The truth might be even less exciting. When I moored on the Huddersfield, and awoke one morning at a jaunty angle thanks to the pound having drained overnight (and buildings further down flooded) the conclusion in the end was that it was careless boaters wot done it.
Post a Comment