Forked Rake for Lugworms

This is a fishing tool used to catch lugworms. The basic structure of the rake consisted of a steel body lodged into a wooden handle. The overall design resembles a reversed “L” shape, due to the handle and the bent steel body. A three-toothed body is the typical form, yet there were also two- or four-toothed versions. This tool was necessary for catching lugworms, since lugworms live in a mud flat or sand, and other tools with wide blades such as a shovel, hoe, or pick could accidentally cut through a lugworm’s body while digging the mud. Unlike other types of forked rakes used in farming, the forked rake for catching lugworms is characterized by a comparatively narrow gap between the teeth, and a short handle, which makes it easy to hold in one hand.