THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE. 
247 
tlie plane of the hoop. Sometimes these half hoops were replaced by short cords. 
The bait was suspended from the point of crossing of the two wooden hoops and the 
line for raising and lowering the pots was attached at the same place. As there was 
no way of closing the mouth of the pot after a lobster had entered, these nets had to 
be constantly watched, the lobster being in the habit of retiring after he had finished 
his repast. In using these the fisherman would generally go out in the evening and 
at short intervals he would haul in his nets and remove whatever lobsters they might 
contain. The constant attention necessary in attending to these hoop nets led the 
fishermen to devise an apparatus which would hold the lobsters after once entering 
and would require only occasional visits, and “ lath pots ” were found to fulfill all 
requirements. They acquire the name from the use of common laths in their construc- 
tion. They are usually about 4 feet in length, with a width of about 2 feet, a height of 
18 inches, and in Maine are usually of semicylindrical form. 
The following description of this apparatus is from the Fishery Industries of 
the United States, sec. V, T ol. n, p. 666: 
The framework of the bottom consists of three strips of wood, either hemlock, spruce, or pine 
(the first mentioned being the most durable), a little longer than the width of the pot, about 2f inches 
wide and 1 inch thick. In the ends of each of the outer strips a hole is bored to receive the ends of a 
small branch of pliable wood, which is bent into a regular semicircular curve. These hoops are made 
of branches of spruce or hemlock, or of hardwood saplings, such as maple, birch, or ash, generally 
retaining the bark. Three of these similar frames, straight below and curved above, constitute the 
framework of each pot, one to stand at each end and one in the center. The narrow strips of wood, 
generally ordinary house laths of spruce or pine, which form the covering, are nailed lengthwise to 
them, with interspaces between about equal to the width of the laths. On the bottom the laths are 
sometimes nailed on the outside and sometimes on the inside of the cross pieces. The door is formed 
by three or four of the laths running the entire length near the top. The door is hinged on by means 
of small leather strips, and is fastened by a single wooden button in the center, or by two buttons, 
one at each end. The openings into the pot * * * are two in number, one at each end, are 
generally knit of coarse twine and have a mesh between three-fourths of an inch and 1 inch square. 
They are funnel-shaped, with one side shorter than the other, and at the larger end have the same 
diameter as the framework. The smaller and inner end measures about 6 inches in diameter and is 
held open by means of a wire ring or wooden hoop. The funnels are fastened by the larger ends to 
the end frames of the pot, with the shorter side uppermost, so that when they are in place they lead 
obliquely upward into the pot instead of horizontally. The inner ends are secured in position by one 
or two cords extending to the center frame. The funnels are about 11 or 12 inches deep, and therefore 
extend about halfway to the center of the pot. They taper rapidly and form a strongly inclined plane, 
up which the lobsters must climb in their search for the bait. A two-strand manila twine is most 
commonly used for the funnels. Cotton is also used, but is more expensive and less durable. 
A change in the shape of the funnel was first made at Matinicus shortly before 
1890. This has been called the “patent head.” Large lobsters are said to always go 
to the top and small ones to the bottom of the pots. By going to the top in the “old- 
head” pot large lobsters made their escape through the hole, but in the pots with 
“patent heads” instead of finding their way through the hole the big lobsters slide 
over it. The “patent head” has not been used to any extent, however. The sketch 
shown on the following page gives a good idea of the difference in shape. 
In the center of the ordinary pot is a sort of spearhead of wood or iron from 8 to 
12 inches long. This has one large barb and is set upright in the middle of the center 
frame. The bait is placed on this spearhead. Several large stones or bricks are 
lashed to the bottom of the pot, on the inside, in order to furnish weight enough to 
hold the pot at the bottom. 
As it was noticed that a lobster generally crawled over a pot before entering by 
