An eel buck or eel basket is a type of fish trap that was prevalent in the River Thames in England up to the 20th century. It was used particularly to catch eels, which were a staple part of the London diet. Eel bucks were baskets made of willow wood, and were often strung together in a fishing weir. Construction of such weirs was outlawed under the terms of Magna Carta: All fish-weirs shall be removed from the Thames, the Medway, and throughout the whole of England, except on the sea coast. However the practice continued unabated, often with adverse effects on navigation.