THE LOBSTER FISHERY 



643 



The depth at which the pots are placed depends upon the season, the shore, 

 and the nature of the bottom. In winter the lobsters retire to deeper water, usu- 

 ally to the open sea, and are more scattered than in summer when they are found 

 in the shallower water of bays and harbors. Because of this the pots are set fur- 

 ther apart in winter and in deeper water further from the shore. In warm weather 

 the traps are set in from 2 to 10 fathoms of water, but- in cold weather from 10 

 to 25 fathoms are necessary. Formerly, very little fishing was carried out in win- 

 ter, but now many lobstermen continue their operations throughout the year. 



Where lobsters are plentiful, the traps are hauled twice daily; but, because 

 of their increasing scarcity in New England it seldom pays the lobstermen to 

 haul their traps more than once each day. As many as 100 pots are often set. 

 The average number of traps set has increased in recent years as the number of 

 lobsters caught per trap has decreased; this increase was necessary in order to 

 maintain at the former level the number of lobsters caught. 



Preservation of Live Lobsters. Lobsters are marketed either alive, boiled, or 

 canned. Since boiled lobsters spoil quickly and are therefore often of question- 

 able quality, the greater portion are marketed alive. Each lobsterman has a live- 

 car in which he keeps his catch until they are sold. These cars are usually oblong, 

 rectangular boxes, with open seams or numerous small holes to permit the free 



(.Courtesy Robert L. Dow, Maine Sea and Shore Fisheries') 



Fig. 30-4. The lobster buyers hold the fisherman's catch in "live cars" until they 

 have a sufficient number to ship to the market. 



circulation of the sea water. Their average size is about 6 feet long, 4 feet wide, 

 and 2 feet deep. The door through which the lobsters are introduced and removed 

 is on the top. Dealer's cars are quite similar to those used by the fishermen, 

 except that they are much larger; a common size is 30 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 

 3 feet deep. Such a live-car will hold from 2,000 to 3,000 lobsters, depending upon 

 their size. Dealer's cars are usually divided into several transverse compartments. 



