Object number
64/207
Title
Lobster pot,
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This basketwork lobster pot was made by A. Hutchings and Sons of Beesands, Devon. It is made from locally grown red and green willow, directly after winter cutting. It is made of stakes which have been fitched and waled into a hemi-spherical shape and has a funnel. Projecting from the top of the basket are two ash pegs called ‘bait skippers’ onto which bait was put, and there are two rope handles on the bottom. These baskets would be taken out to sea by boat, baited (with fresh bait for crab and less fresh bait for lobster), weighted with stones, and laid to lie on the seabed. They were common in the West Country and Wales, particularly at Skerries Bank, Start Point and Prawle Point in Devon, but have since been replaced with wire pots.
Physical description
1 shellfish basket: willow, wood (ash), rope
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: LOBSTER POT. Hutchings. // Acc. No.: 64/207 // Group: FISHING. SEA. // Neg. no.: 60/5922 // Place of origin: Beesands. Devon. // Period in use: Present & probably more than 150 years ago. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Locally grown red & green willows used directly after winter cutting. 2 ash pegs called bait skippers. // Shape and construction: Made on a “mule” (64/208). The funnel is made first, the stakes being curved outwards & fitched spirally & finally brought in again & closely waled to form the bottom. Other stakes are added at intervals.* Two rope handles on the bottom. // Dimensions: Diameter of funnel: 8” Diameter of bottom: 35” Height inside: 14” // Use: Taken out by boat & baited with live sand eels for crabs which like fresh bait. Lobsters like a not so fresh bait. The pot is weighted with stones & lies on the sea bed. The area of the Skerries Bank, Start Point & Prawle Point is one of the best in England. // Dialect names: // Distribution: Fairly general in West Country & Wales though wire pots are taking the place of willow ones. // Additional notes: *See Notebook I p.3–6 for full description of the making with dialect words for parts. Also card on Hallsands. // Illust. BS. series // AN.5. // Country Life 29 Feb 1952. Cornish // Mudeford.'
Production place
Beesands
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5922.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\64_207_cob.tif - High resolution image
