The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-06-19
LOBSTER CATCHING.


all relish that toothsome crustacean, few
people are aware of it's mode of capture.
AS I have passed many seasons among the
lobster men of New England, while pursu-
ing the wild fowl of that coast, l will
describe it. HOLSTERS abound all along
Massachusetts, Bay, from Cape Ann to Cape
Cod, affording employment to thousands of
poor and hardy fishermen. Each catcher
occupies from ahalf mile to mile of shore,
setting out from sixty to one hundred traps.
These he makes or buys during the Winter
season, and at the first approach of Spring
he plants them along the deep waters of
the shore on rocky bottom. During these
idle months he whites out millions of
little pine wood pegs with which to plug
the nippers of each lobster as fast as taken.
This is necessary precaution to prevent
them from biting and destroying each other
when deposited in the stationary cars,
which are anchored near the shore to con-
tain the fish, until the lobster smack shall
call for them. The lobster trap in shape
and size is much like a Saratoga trunk,
and is made from slips of oak or hickory,
and is about three feet in length, by two
and ahalf in depth and width. The frames
are formed of sticks, one inch and ahalf
thick, and are perforated with holes, in
which are inserted the cross pieces, which
are round and slender as gun rods. AT
either end is made a tunnel, formed of
elastic rattan, which allows the lobster to
crawl into the trap after the bait; but by
instantly closing up prevents their escape.
A small trap door is constructed in the
upper part, which the fisherman opens to
pass in the bait. This is suspended by
means of large hook in the center of the
trap. The door is opened, the hook baited,
and the lobster withdrawn from the trap
and deposited in the boat. To the side of
each trap is tied a stone of sufficient weight
to sink it to the bottom and to keep it
securely there. The traps are sunk in
water some thirty feet deep, and are placed
at intervals of forty yards apart, and in a
double row. A stout line is attached to
each trap, having at its other end wooden
buoy, which, floating on the surface, indi-
Gates the exact position of the trap. He
bats his trap with the head of Goldfish,
or moss-bunker, or piece of sting-ray
or skate, taken on his trawl, which is
anchored out in very deep water, some two
miles from shore, and which he visits and
raises daily. This is all very hard work,
| as it is done with the oar, no sail being used.
He uses for his labor dory boat, the
very best craft that floats the wave. This
is light and handy boat, made of cedar
or pine, seventeen feet long, sharp at the
stem, narrow at the stern, and fiaring out
ward in way that throws off the sea,
| allowing not drop to slop over inboard.
We have often tloated securely, awaiting
the flight of coot and other wild fowl, in a
heavy northeast sea, when the gallant boat
would almost stand on end, or pitch right
over, and yet not pint of water would
come in the entire day to wet the pea jacket
or inundate the guns.
begins his work at day dawn, commencing
at one end of his line of buoys, and raising
each trap in succession, taking out the
enclosed Holsters, and re-baiting the hook.
Having gone through with one row he
turns about and rows through the other
line of buoys, and having finished his route,
he rows into his anchored car, to which he
makes fast with his painter. He opens,
| l. of
taking out from his boat his catch, one
after the other, and depositing it in the
car, after first plugging it securely with
his little peg. From long habit he handles
them with impunity, though bite from a
big claw would be apt to make an ugly
wound, or snap off finger.
If he has taken some three hundred
Holsters he smiles and thinks he has made
a good days work, receiving from the
smack-man about three cents for each,
little and big. The lobster vessel comes
along about once in two weeks, and coming
to anchor, sends in its yawl to buy and
receive all that the car contains, amounting
perhaps to two thousand fish. These
smacks run along the entire coast OF New
England, stopping at each station to gather
up their freight, which, deposited in the
open well of the smack, may be reasonably
York, Boston, etc, in good order. But it
often happens in Summer, owing to the
heat and the delaying Gains, that the smack
reaches the city market with its precious
cargo, in dead or dying condition, SO that
the whole must be dumped overheard into
the dock, and the voyage prove disastrous
failure. But if the smack has good luck,
fair breezes and quick run, it makes a
profitable voyage, receiving handsome
price for it's fish, which is more than doubled
before it reaches the hands and pocket of
the uptown purchaser. There is very
great difference between lobster bought
at Fulton market after it has been taken
two weeks ago in Eastern waters, and the
article taken from its rocky feeding grounds
and pumped into kettle of scalding
water, and then laid on the dinner table,
flaming red, and of delicious flavor, al
: within short half-hour. If you would
enjoy your salad in perfection, 60 to the
shore where the fish ranges its native past
ures, and being taken and served up a,
once, has no time to pine away and lose
, the fullness and freshness Of it's flesh.
, j. Mel. in Rod and Gun.