Cowel

A rectangular trough-shaped basket with squared ends and a plaited head-band, carrying three hundreds of pilchards on the carrier’s back.

The cowel existed because the maund did not work on a beach. West Cornwall had few sheltered quays, so fish were landed on the open foreshore, and scrambling across wet weed-covered rock with a basket held out in front was neither safe nor quick. The cowel put the same load on the back, steadied by a band across the forehead, leaving both hands free for balance. Many of the carriers were women. The carrier stood with their back to the boat, loaded at gunwale height, then walked up through the steep streets to the curing cellars. Spelled cawal, cowal or cowl according to which village you asked.