Wire or Wood? The Canadian Conundrum

by Bill Oldham

South central Prince Edward Island 2009. Traditional wood traps are predominant over all of PEI and Newfoundland. Other provinces are all wire traps. Both trap types fish better than the other. Fishermen’s Voice Photo

The fairly rapid conversion from wood lobster traps occurred in Maine in the 1990’s. The conversion was nearly universal with unused wood traps being relegated to decorating tourist traps or topping up the family dump behind the shed.

The Canadian lobster industry saw a similar conversion to wire at about the same time.

However, some of the maritime provinces returned to using wood. As interesting as this retro conversion may be, the fact that whole provinces returned to wood while the neighboring province stayed entirely with wire is more curious.

Both claimed their choice fished better. Who’s right?

In many arguments it is sometimes said that both can’t parties be right. But when it comes to Canadian lobster trap choices it appears they are both right. Ask ‘em.

Wire holds up better in the punishing environment it works in. Wire traps can more easily be built larger and have the potential to hold more lobster. Wood comes up out of the water a little easier. But what is it about a wood trap that might make it fish better. Could lobster be less suspicious of a wood trap?

Does it smell different from a wire trap. Is it nostalgia?

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland fish wood traps. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Grand Manan fish wire traps. Wire and wood fishermen are equally adamant that their choice of traps fish better.

There are a lot of lobstermen in Canada. Canada catches a little more lobster than Maine, although a lot of the world considers lobster a Maine product.

Whatever the reason, and there must be one, it is striking when traveling from one Canadian province to another to see all wire traps stacked on the wharfs and in the next province where all the traps are wood.