Abstract

The effect of trap inner funnel diameter on crayfish (Procambarus clarkii and Procambarus zonangulus) catch was evaluated in a 1.88 ha crayfish pond during the latter part of the 1994-95 and 1995-96 crayfish seasons. Four pyramid crayfish trap were used, three trap types were made with non-traditional, plastic-coated square-mesh wire with three different inner funnel diameters (3.5, 4.4 and 5.7 cm respectively) and one trap type was made with traditional, plastic-coated hexagonal mesh wire with 4.4 cm inner funnel diameters. Mesh size was 1.9 cm with each trap material. Overall, more, smaller crayfish (carapace length) were caught in the square mesh trap with the smallest inner funnel diameter. The largest crayfish were caught with the conventional traps. No significant differences in mean weight per trap were observed among the square mesh traps with different funnel diameters, although all of them caught significantly more crayfish per trap than the control traps. Cumulative catch was greatest in the square mesh traps with the 4.4 cm inner funnel diameters and the difference approached significance. During the second season, detailed examination of species composition of the catch showed a significant species x trap interaction. This was caused by the greater catches (number and weight per trap) of P. clarkii in the traps with the smallest inner funnel diameter.

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