60 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



And they do get lost overboard. To meet this problem one 

 lobsterman has worked out a hooked rod as shown in Figure 

 13. Any fisherman can make one. This device holds about 

 twenty bands strung on it as a magazine. The end band is 

 slid over the hooked end, grasped and pulled outward to re- 

 ceive the lobster claw. This device is a J^-inch brass rod 

 (which can be bent cold). One end is bent down for \y 2 

 inches to fit into a hole in the cabin top, etc. The other end 

 is bent either upwards or sideways (as it is above) for y%- 

 inch. The sideways bending presents the stretched band in 

 a position many lobstermen find most convenient. 



Notice that the bands in 

 Figure 13, and the one shown 

 separately in Figure 14, have a 

 tab as part of the band. This tab 

 has proved to be a great aid in 

 using the hooked rod described 

 Fig. 14. Tabbed rubbeTband above. It makes the gripping 



and stretching of the band much 

 easier. Tabbed bands are the same price per pound as the 

 regular ones. But there are fewer to the pound. 



Opinion seems to be equally divided between the lob- 

 stermen who claim banding is as quick as plugging, and 

 those who say banding is much slower. 



There are two things to look for in buying bands: 



1. Don't buy bands made of compounded rubber, 

 even though they are much cheaper. Compounded rub- 

 ber has been adulterated with cheapening materials. It 

 has neither the stretch nor the life of pure gum rubber. 

 It is easy to test, for compounded rubber will sink if 

 dropped in a glass of fresh water, while pure rubber 

 will float. 



2. Don't buy bands less than 7/16" wide, and l / 2 " 

 is best. They will stay on better, and be slower to chafe 

 through. The only advantage to a narrower band is that 

 there are more to a pound. 



Lobstermen sputter when required to band their catch, 

 and blame the dealer. But there isn't much a dealer can do 



