Anti-escape gate for the entry tunnel of a crab trap

摘要

A comb-like gate structure having a plurality of resiliently bendable tines is affixed adjacent a constricted opening at the inner end of an inwardly convergent entry tunnel to prevent escape of crabs once they have entered the trap enclosure through such opening. The trap is of the type in which the entry tunnel is formed by netting stretched between a large entranceway in a side of the enclosure and the constricted opening formed by a rigid hoop that is disposed interiorally of the enclosure and is spaced above the bottom, and below the top, of the enclosure and is oriented so as to open generally upwardly, in facing relation to the top of the enclosure. The gate structure is attached to that segment of the hoop which secures the top portion of the tunnel netting and the tines of the gate structure are oriented to project generally horizontally across and somewhat above the opening formed by the hoop. Crabs which have entered the enclosure and have crawled up on the top portion of tunnel netting and which might otherwise escape by crawling along that portion of netting and then down into the upwardly facing, hoop-reinforced opening, are blocked from this escape route by the tines of the gate which are resiliently deflected downwardly against the segment of the hoop that forms the opposing edge of the opening, thereby closing off the opening. The tines are shaped and biased such that their free ends project inwardly and upwardly and thus away from the opposing edge of the hoop-reinforced opening, so as to permit unimpeded passage of the entering crabs which crawl up a lower portion of the tunnel netting and pass into the enclosure through the gap between the tines and the opposing edge of the opening.