CRAB AND LOBSTER POTS. 321 



from that just mentioned, and consists of an oblong cage 

 rounded over the top and made up of a slight wooden 

 frame covered with netting, the bottom being of wood and 

 of a substantial character, although composed of battens or 

 narrow pieces of wood nailed across the lower frame. The 

 usual mouse -trap entrances are made either in the sides or 

 ends of the cage, the funnel being kept in shape by cane or 

 cord supports. These cages are in most places known as 

 "creels," and they are baited, weighted, and set in just the 

 same manner as has been described in the case of the west 

 country pot. Amateur sea-fishing is now almost unlimited 

 in its scope, and although drift-fishing is still entirely in 

 the hands of professional fishermen, there is hardly any 

 other kind to which yachting men do not give some atten- 

 tion, and crab and lobster fishing has not escaped their 

 notice. One excellent result from this is a vast improvement 

 in creels, although from the greater first cost of the apparatus 

 there is an impediment to their general use by fishermen. 

 The improvement consists simply in having the creels 

 made entirely of zinc or galvanized iron, and wire netting 

 is used instead of that usually made of hemp. These 

 creels always keep in good order, and, notwithstanding the 

 usual prejudice against any alteration from established 

 methods, prove very successful in working. Lastly, we may 

 mention what is called a " trunk," which is simply a ring of 

 iron about two feet across with a shallow bag-net fastened 

 to it below. This is much the same as the hoop-net for 

 large prawns, but with a very much shallower net. It is 

 said that much finer lobsters are caught by the trunk than 

 by the creel, there being of course some limit to the size of 

 the lobsters and crabs which can enter the latter kind of 

 trap, whereas the trunk being entirely open anything that 

 chances to come within the breadth of the iron ring may be 

 VOL. I. H. Y 



