[SZonian]

So, if these abandoned traps will continue to “trap” water bugs, why do the lobstermen bait them when trapping them normally? Think of the money that could be saved.

I think this is about as relevant as AGW is right now with a hell of a lot of exagerration thrown in to make folks sympathetic to a BUG!

A delicious bug, but a bug nonetheless.

SZ

[Travis McGee]

Yes, bugs are great eating, but it’s stupid to have 3 or 4 “lost” traps still killing the critters for every “working” trap in the area.

Nobody gains by killing the bugs for NOTHING.

[Travis McGee]

So, if these abandoned traps will continue to “trap” water bugs, why do the lobstermen bait them when trapping them normally? Think of the money that could be saved.

I have seen this personally with my own eyes many many times. Each trapped bug that starves becomes "bait" for the next bug and so on ad infinitum. In most "ghost" traps, I would see live bugs, dead bugs, and bug shells, telling the story.

[Ditter]

Let me start by saying that I know absolutely nothing about trapping lobsters. I am responding to your post. Maybe lobstermen bait their traps because more lobsters come in to eat the bait (as planned) and when they lose a trap it still has bait in it. Lobsters come in to the lost trap and die and then those lobsters are bait for other lobsters who then come in and die. Sort of a perpetually baited trap. Now if you tell me lobsters are not cannibals then my theory is worthless.

[Daffynition]