Since about the 1980's, all traps were made of wood. Some still are. However, most traps today are now made of steel or aluminum mesh. These are much more durable and weather storms better. It was found that wood traps wore out frequently and washed ashore more often as a result of storms and strong under-currents.
Lobstermen pull their traps by attaching a hook to the rope of the buoy and pulling it up by hand.
These traps can weigh up to 100 pounds when full of lobster. It is common to spot a lobsterman by his muscular forearms, shoulders and back, an all around rough burly breed. It takes a lot of guts to be a lobsterman, but it's a good honest living. Lobstermen can identify their traps by the colors painted on the floating devices called buoys. Each lobsterman has a different color scheme.