ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
145 
LOBSTER BOATS AT A POUND NET 
The lobstermen are getting menhaden for bait. 
traps—“pots” as they are called—are semi- 
cylindrical in shape, three to four feet in 
length, one and a half to one and three quarter 
feet in width and height. The bottom is con¬ 
structed of several narrow flat boards—pine, 
spruce or hemlock—with about half an inch 
space between each. To this is fastened three 
semi-circular upright frames, one at each end 
and one in the middle. Across these frames or¬ 
dinary building laths are nailed lengthwise 
about an inch apart. Three or four slats near 
the bottom are cleated together instead of be¬ 
ing nailed to the frames, so as to form a re¬ 
movable section the entire 
length of the pot, to facili¬ 
tate baiting and handling. 
One end of the pot is also 
slatted while the other re¬ 
mains open. Into this open 
end is inserted a coarse 
meshed net funnel extending 
inward about a quarter the 
length of the pot. Its larger 
diameter is that of the pot, 
its mouth being about six 
inches across. One side, 
shorter than the other, goes 
in towards the top of the 
pot, so that the lobster has 
to crawl up an inclined 
plane to enter the trap. By 
means of cords, one running 
to the top of the pot, and 
two to the center frame, the 
mouth of the funnel is 
pulled upwards towards the 
slatted end and held open. 
To the center frame is fas¬ 
tened a second net funnel 
similar in size and design. 
The mouth of this funnel is 
also pulled towards the 
slatted end but only by 
means of two cords, in such 
a way as to partially close 
it. Two bricks are fastened 
to the bottom of the pot in¬ 
side under the center frame 
in order to sink it. The 
whole pot is then tarred to 
preserve it from the ravages 
of ship worms (Teredo) 
and fouling by sea weeds. 
About mid-season they 
must be taken ashore to be 
dried, and whenever they 
become very foul they are 
scrubbed while still in use 
with a wire brush. These pots are made bv the 
fishermen themselves and are valued at about 
five dollars apiece. Each man owns from two 
hundred to four hundred pots, and as they 
must be replaced every two or three years, 
this constitutes one of the largest items of 
expense. The pots, set in strings of forty or 
more, are fastened ten to fifty fathoms apart 
to a line or trawl of half inch rope by means of 
bridle and line eight feet long. When set out 
the line is anchored to the bottom and marked 
by a buoy. This buoy is usually a long stick 
LOBSTER POTS; SANDY HOOK BAY 
The gear used in lobstering is simple; a trap constructed of lath and 
netting, with buoy flags to mark their position. 
Photograph by S. A. Callisen 
