I am just sitting here watching the crabber run his lines. In Maryland they use trot lines instead of crab traps. They have 2 large bouys , one at each end of a very long line which is usually made of dacron polyester because it does not float. The bouys are anchored to the bottom with a line, chain, anchor system. The line between them is baited every 2-4 feet and also can be weighted every so often. This line lays on the bottom where the crabs (hopefully) latch on to the bait.
They 'run' the lines back and forth for hours. There is a roller set up which the line goes over as they poke along and they have a net with which they toss the crabs into baskets on the deck. This guy was sorting the crabs too throwing those he didn't want back in the creed. Some of the boats have more than 1 person aboard but most are single handed. They have a steering station next to the roller so they can drive and net at the same time. Their are a LOT of these boats out here doing this day after day.
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| Oxford Crabber at work. |
It was nice meeting you in Oxford (and Cambridge)! Best of luck in your adventures. Perhaps we'll see you out there again sometime! :) Frank and Jody (and Trent & Katreina) "Lehe Paine"
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