258 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



For securing herring and squid for bait from Newfound- 

 land, vessels have been fitted out with freezing plants 

 aboard ; but it is the general rule to let Nature wait upon 

 the fisherman in the freezing of fish. 



The method of catching lobsters is by means of pots. 

 These are made of laths nailed to end hoops about twenty 

 inches across. The laths are apart enough to allow the 

 water to pass in and out readily. Across each end is 

 stretched a funnel-shaped piece of netting pointing inside. 

 The inner extremity of the netting is fastened to a small 

 hoop about five inches in diameter. Stones or other weight 

 are placed inside, a line is attached to the outside, and the 

 fisherman lets the car sink to the bottom on the fishing 

 grounds. A light buoy is attached to the rope to enable 

 the fisherman to locate his pot. Within the pot and mid- 

 way between the ends of the two pieces of netting the bait 

 is secured. As the lobster moves about in search of food 

 it is attracted by the bait, which is usually the heads of 

 cod, haddock, or some other fish. The lobster enters by the 

 end of the pot, passes along the netting and enters the pot 

 through the hole that has been left for the purpose. Once 

 inside the pot the chances are very much against his get- 

 ting out again. 



Lobster pots are usually pulled once a day. If any 

 lobsters are within they are removed, the pot is rebaited, 

 and again allowed to sink to bottom. If the lobsters are 

 not sold immediately they are placed in lobster cars. These 

 are floating, box-like enclosures, allowing free circulation 

 of water and capable of holding a large number of lobsters. 

 In some instances artificial enclosures for retaining lobsters 

 have been made by building a dam across a narrow body 

 of water. When the collecting boat of the fish dealer or 

 the cannery comes to collect the lobsters, they are bailed 

 out of the car or enlosure by means of dip nets. 



