ABOUT LOBSTERS 41 



few days, and all new oak pots are soaked underwater * * 

 for several days. This undoubtedly waterlogs the pots 

 and makes them heavier, but it is probable that much 

 of the acid in the oak is thus leached out. 



Heads. One of the few pieces of trapping gear that 

 lobstermen universally agree upon is the use of nylon for 

 the netting of the heads. Only a few years ago, heads were 

 made of marline or other tarred twine. But after World 

 War II, there were quantities of surplus nylon parachute 

 cord which sold at a fraction of their cost. Someone tried 

 nylon out as a header twine, and its strength and durability 

 brought it into general acceptance. There can be quite a 

 difference in nylon cord; some can be bothersome by kink- 

 ing, and all of it should have the cut ends sealed off with 

 heat, since nylon unlays readily, and does not hold a knot. 

 The braided nylon is used mostly for bait bags. Nylon has 

 been braided over string, plastic filaments, and glass cord 

 in an effort to reduce the cost of the twine. None of the ex- 

 periments was successful, either because its life was too 

 short or the twine was stiffened so as to make knitting more 

 difficult. 



Nylon header twine is made in two weights, and two 

 colors, white or green, and it is amusing to hear how em- 

 phatically each lobsterman will defend the greater effi- 

 ciency of the color he prefers. 



In some parts, such as at Martha's Vineyard, the funnels 

 for the heads are made of wood laths. They afford better 

 footing for a lobster than nylon netting, and also can more 

 easily be fitted with a non-escape device, such as a hinged 

 wire across the opening of the parlor head. 1 



Netted heads must be mounted taut or the pot will not 

 fish. This is probably because a taut head furnishes a more 

 rigid footing for the lobster. (An acrobat who is a slack- 

 rope walker has to be more skillful than a tight-rope 

 walker. ) 



A lobster pot is an excellent example of Yankee inge- 



1 See page 47. 



