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2. POTS, BAIT and CORFS.
Early pots, bait and corfs.
Crayfish pots were made from heavy fencing wire and galvanised wire netting with a woven cane neck. The fishermen made their own pots during the off season. A fire was lit under a length of piping which was half filled with water, the cane was put in the hot water to soften so it could be wound into the shape of the neck. This method was used until plastic necks became available.
Today frozen blocks of carp are used to bait the pots. Previously any meat that was available was used including old or no longer needed horses purchased from farmers, kangaroo and rabbit provided by trappers who caught them for the skins. Wires were strung under the jetty and the meat hung there to dry until needed. This was not a pretty site for people walking on the jetty.
Before refrigeration boxes known as corfs were used to keep the crayfish alive until there were enough to send to market. The corfs came in various sizes between 150 and 500 killograms. On completion of the days fishing the catch would be taken from the boat and put into the corfs which were anchored at their own moorings and added to each day.
A small trolley ran along a railway line on the jetty. This was used to cart bait and equipment out to the boats and carry the loads of crayfish back to the waiting transport. A crane was used to assist with lifting dinghies and the heavy objects out of the water.
Info courtesy Kingston branch of the National Trust.
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