ORONO — University of Maine researchers are trying to determine whether processed fish waste, rather than dead fish, can be effective as lobster bait.

UMO zoologists Robert Bayer and Ken Allen are attempting to perfect an artificial bait that uses amino acids derived from fish waste.

“But we have yet to come up with a uniformly successful bait that will match natural bait on a regular basis.”

Scientists around the country have tried for nearly 50 years to develop an artificial bait that is consistently effective, but nothing has worked as well as herring, fish heads, pogies, mackeral and other natural bait.

Allen says artificial bait would never replace fish bait but would be helpful as a supplement because fish bait often is in short supply during peak times of the season. And fish bait does not remain fresh for long.

Artificial bait also would allow lobstermen to keep supplies on hand for longer periods of time.

The bait in lobster traps must be replenished every two or three days, and a suitable artificial bait might be developed that only would have to be replaced every two or three weeks.

And sea fleas, tiny sea-bottom pests that eat fresh bait, would not be attracted to manufactured bait.

Robert Fairbairn, a 72-year-old inventor from Bourne, Mass., said he has developed a product made out of cowhide that is coated with a brine solution and treated with menhaden oil.

Several years ago, Bayer experimented in a laboratory with artificial flavorings like chocolate, fish and cheese to see which flavors lobsters preferred. Other fishermen have toyed with chicken parts, cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and even used automobile oil filters.

Bayer and Allen are using processed fish wastes mixed with a synthetic substance to create a solid bait that can be put in a bait bag and hung in the trap. The amino acids from the fish wastes are released into the water, attracting lobsters to the trap.

Test results have not been encouraging.

In 1988, a South Addison lobsterman caught 122 lobsters in 117 traps baited with herring, but only 24 lobsters in 117 traps containing artificial bait.

Allen and Bayer changed the formula last summer, and 48 lobsters were caught in 50 traps baited with herring while 18 lobsters crawled into 50 traps baited with manufactured bait.