The
River Wye has long been famous for its salmon. The right to
fish in the river belonged to local landowners though, and they employed
water bailiffs to prevent anyone
else from fishing there.
Local people resented this, as they liked to fish for the salmon for much
needed food. This led to trouble with the river authorities and the police
on several occasions.
In 1878
poachers attacked water bailiffs at Crossgates, and hundreds
of people turned out to watch
poaching on the Wye near Rhayader.
The men doing the poaching used hooks or barbed forks attached to poles.
They usually disguised themselves, and were often called Rebeccaites
because the original Rebecca rioters had done this.
(See pages on the Rebecca riots at Rhayader).
The local people supported the poachers and police found it hard
to get evidence against them.
