426 REPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



one also in the center. A buo}^, usually consisting of a small keg or 

 some wooden object, is placed near each end of the line to locate it. 

 As a rule a trot line lasts through about half of the season. The cost 

 is from $3 to $9, varying with the length, quality, size of rope, and 

 kind of grapnels or killicks used, the average being about $5. Some 

 fishermen use a stake planted in the mud at each end of the line instead 

 of grapnels or killicks. Anchors of stone or brick are also employed. 



Bait. — Beef tripe and eels constitute the usual bait, though calf 

 pelts, sting ra3's, hog chokers, spoilt beef, and various other substi- 

 tutes are sometimes used. It is likely that the use of tripe will be 

 discontinued in the near future, owing to the fact that the steamboats 

 have refused to transport it on account of its offensive odor, and the 

 railroad companies will not handle it except when it is packed in 

 tightly sealed barrels. The bait is generally used in a salted condir 

 tion, and is placed on the line at intervals of 3 or -1 feet. Fishermen 

 bait their lines about once a week, in the meanwhile replacing any bait 

 that ma}' have been washed away or eaten. It is usual on Saturday 

 or Monday to remove the old bait and put on fresh. After a line lias 

 been rebaited it is placed in a coil and covered with salt to preserve the 

 bait until it is used. 



Manner of fishing, — With few exceptions only one man goes in a 

 boat. The lines are set about one-fourth to the tide, or diagonally 

 across a stream. In fishing, the line is drawn across the bow of the 

 boat; a short-handled scoop net is used to transfer the crab to the 

 boat. The lines are overhauled from 10 to 20 times in the course of 

 a day. Durir.g calm weather it is customarj^ to overhaul them from 

 both ends — that is, going and coming — while v.dth a breeze it is con- 

 sidered more advantageous to work from the windward, that the boat 

 may drift with the wind. This facilitates the handling of the line and 

 permits of more crabs being saved than would be the case in working 

 from the leeward. With a long line the advantage of overhauling 

 from both ends is more apparent, as the crabs have less chance to 

 devour the bait. In some localities crabbers aim to reach the fishing 

 grounds shortly after midnight, while at others thej" arrive as late as 3 

 or 4 o'clock in the morning. The object in going early is to get a good 

 lay. If it is a moonlight night the lines are set as soon as a lay is 

 reached, but if it is dark the crabbers await daylight, in the mean- 

 while taking a nap. Crabs very seldom bite before daylight, but if 

 they do not begin soon after, the fishermen consider it as well to 

 return home. Ver}'^ few crabs are taken between 10 o'clock in the 

 morning and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, both on account of the heat 

 and the difficulty in getting the catch ashoi'e in good condition. 

 Hard crabbers are dependent upon neither wind nor tide, but should 

 the water be rough the crabs are liable to be shaken off before they 

 can be caucfht. 



