Question

I never catch anything-not even old boots

Answer 1

这是讲抓鱼的.上文是

Instead of catching fish,they catch old boots,rubbish and what not.I am not so lucky.I never catch anything – not even old boots.

他们抓不到鱼,却抓到了旧靴子、破烂什么的.我没那运气,什么都抓不到,连旧靴子也没抓到.

这句的意思不是没有旧靴子(no old boots),而是没抓到旧靴子(do not catch old boots).所以要用not.你可能被错误的翻译误导了.