286 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



irregular in form, being about 6 inches in diameter at the smaller end which is closed, 



except for an elliptical opening, about 4 or 5 inches in the passageway through which 



the lobster falls about 6 inches to the floor of the trap. A wire door, hinged above, 



is provided in one side to take the catch from the trap. 



These traps are used for catching spiny lobsters in deep water. The bottom is 



usually weighted, so that the trap when lowered will reach the bottom of the water 



in the desired upright position. This also tends to prevent strong tides from tumbling 



the pots about. The trap is always set with the pointed end, which the fishermen call 



the "front," directed against the flow of the tide. A few fishermen fasten buoys to 



their traps, but most of them know the fishing grounds so well that they are able to 



locate the traps without the use of attached floats. The traps are raised once or twice 



a day but usually only once during the morning. A fisherman who depends on this 



method usually has 15 or more traps. The same traps when baited with spiny lobster 



meat are used in catching fish. 



THE GRAINS. 



The "grains" (Fig. 262) is atwo-tined spear on a long handle. Every fishing boat 

 includes a " pair of grains" or " grain hook" in its equipment for spearing spiny lobsters 

 and large fish in general. Spiny lobsters speared with this apparatus are usually killed, 



Fig. 262.— The grains. 



so the grains are used chiefly in catching them for fish-baiting purposes, though a few 



caught in this manner are sold where immediate consumption is possible. The spiny 



lobster hides under rocky ledges, and usually the antennae are visible. It can be induced 



to leave its' hiding place by scraping and jabbing on the rocks, giving the fisherman an 



opportunity for spearing it. 

 ^ HOOP NETS. 



The hoop net, or lift net, consists of a metal hoop varying in diameter from 3 to 



6 feet, to which fish net is woven in such a manner as to allow it to sag in the center. 



The net is raised and lowered by means of a single rope, one end of which is tied at the 



middle and intersection of two short loose ropes, the ends of which are tied to the hoop. 



At night the nets are lowered to the bottom and inspected frequently by carefully 



raising the net to the surface. This means of capture is seldom used except by those 



having no boats. It is employed chiefly around whaYves and piling where spiny lobsters 



are known to be hiding. 



SEINES. 



Seines are used but little, because the spiny lobsters are not plentiful enough to 

 warrant using them often. They are the same as the beach seines used in capturing fish. 

 The nets are hauled over the shallow flats, keeping the lead line on the bottom. They 

 are then dragged up on shore, and the spiny lobsters and fish are easily taken. Once 



