Gauvry, who has been monitoring the state and federal protection plans, came up with the bait-bag idea at an alternative bait workshop last year. Researchers and scientists came to the workshop with reports on the latest efforts to develop artificial baits that could be used by commercial fishermen. But Gauvry, of Broadkill Beach, was intrigued by something a waterman mentioned. Frank Eicherly IV, a Milford conch fisherman, told the group about a bait bag he was using to stretch his supply of horseshoe crabs. Eicherly told the group that he cut his bait needs by 75 percent by using the plastic mesh bags he had developed.
Most fishermen use a full crab to bait their conch pots.
Eicherly told the researchers that he cut his horseshoe crabs into quarters and used one piece per bag. Gauvry offered to manufacture and distribute bait bags in the design Eicherly had developed. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences Sea Grant Program integrated the bait bags into tests of alternative baits they were conducting. Researcher Robert Fisher found the bait bags extended the life of the bait and concluded fishermen could catch the same amount of conch and use 50 percent less bait. Gauvry has been distributing the bait bags in Virginia, where they are required, and in other states where fishermen want to try them.