Fish trap

Abstract: Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction / Kathryn Bernick Part 1: Wetland World-Views Wetland Worlds and the Past Preserved / J.M. Coles Prehistoric Wetland Sites in Sweden / Lars Larsson Wetland Archaeological Sites in Aotearoa (New Zealand) Prehistory / Cathryn Barr Wetlands-Associated Sites on the Russian Far East: A Review of Environment, Chronology, and Paleoeconomy / Yaroslav V. Kuzmin Wetlands and Hunter-Gatherer Land Use in North America / George P. Nicholas Part 2: Wet-Site Perspectives, Past and Present The Importance of the Biskupin Wet Site for Twentieth-Century Polish Archaeology / Wojciech Piotrowski Ancient Maya Use of Wetlands in Northern Quintana Roo, Mexico / Scott L. Fedick The Death of the Wildwood and the Birth of Woodmanship in Southeast England / D.M. Goodburn Stylistic Characteristics of Basketry from Coast Salish Area Wet Sites / Kathryn Bernick The Boston Back Bay Fish Weirs / Elena B. Decima and Dena F. Dincauze Part 3: Fishing Technologies on the Northwest Coast A Comparative Chronology of Northwest Coast Fishing Features / Madonna L. Moss and Jon M. Erlandson Fishing Weirs in Oregon Coast Estuaries / Scott Byram Wet-Site Contributions to Developmental Models of Fraser River Fishing Technology / Ann Stevenson The Montana Creek Fish Trap I: Archaeological Investigations in Southeast Alaska / Robert C. Betts The Montana Creek Fish Trap II: Stratigraphic Interpretation in the Context of Southeast Alaska Geomorphology / Greg Chaney Part 4: Preservation and Conservation in Practice Essex Fish Traps and Fisheries: An Integrated Approach to Survey, Recording, and Management / Paul J. Gilman The Humber Wetlands Survey: An Integrated Approach to Wetland Research and Management / Robert Van de Noort The Role of Monitoring in the Assessment and Management of Archaeological Sites / Mike Corfield Observations Resulting from Treatment of Waterlogged Bowls in Aotearoa, New Zealand / Dilys A. Johns Supercritical Drying of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood / Barry Kaye and David J. Cole-Hamilton Footing the Bill: Conservation Costs in the Private Sector / Katherine Singley

Abstract: Critics point out that a weakness of Lourandos’ ‘intensification’ paradigm for southwestern Victoria is a lack of dates for iconic fish traps of the Lake Condah region. McNiven et al. (2012) detailed excavations at Muldoons Trap Complex at Lake Condah in Gunditjmara Country, where charcoal recovered from channel infill sediments indicated initial construction at least 6600 cal. BP, making the site one of the world’s oldest known fish traps. Channel excavations also revealed the addition of basalt block walls dating to ca 600–800 cal. BP. Subsequent excavations at a second location at Muldoons demonstrate that a barrier/dam feature associated with artificial ponding of flood waters and containment of eels was added to the site complex ca 300–500 cal. BP and possibly elaborated in the nineteenth century. These results show that Muldoons Trap Complex underwent phased redevelopment and major elaboration over the past 800 years. This redevelopment followed little or no activity during the preceding 400...

Abstract: Design and operational aspects of Antillean-Z fish traps were investigated under tropical estuarine conditions. Catch rates were compared between different tidal states, mesh sizes, entrance funnel designs, soak times, trap volumes, bait container designs and parts of one lunar cycle. The size structures of major fish species trapped were compared between small and large mesh sizes. Catches were found to be reduced at high tide. Traps with the small (12.5 mm) square mesh produced higher catch rates than those with large (42 mm) hexagonal mesh. The smaller mesh traps retained smaller fishes and captured fewer large sparids (two species) than did the larger mesh traps. Higher catch rates occurred in traps with straight, conical entrances during short (2-h) trap soaks than during long (1½-d) soaks, while trap catches with horse-head entrance funnels did not differ significantly between the two soak times. This probably reflects greater ease of trap escapement from straight funnels once the initial high attractiveness of trap bait has declined. For most species, more fishes were captured during short (2-h) than long (1½-d) soaks, indicating that short soaks may be advantageous in many situations. Larger trap sizes (volume approx. 0.92 m^3) produced higher catches than smaller trap sizes (volume approx. 0.40 m^3) for one species only, Lutjanus russelli, suggesting that for many species the logistic advantages of smaller traps may make them a useful sampling option. Of two bait container designs tested one with more numerous but smaller holes was found to be advantageous. With this design there was always bait remaining in the container when the trap was censused, ensuring that all traps were baited throughout the soak. The different responses of particular taxa to various trap design modifications and operation investigated in this study suggests that all aspects of trap design and operation need to be considered when designing particular trap sampling program.