I don't think the original poster was looking at this as a final recovery device but, rather, as a "trap" to be left in the stream bed and recovered some time later, hopefully, loaded with gold. There have been many gadgets along this line over the years, including mats left under water and secured with rocks or pins, heavy weight traps such as that pictured, and pieces of corrugated culvert covered with sand. Many of these end up getting washed away and some are discovered and removed by others who reap any gold caught in the traps. I have found it better to let nature do its work and prospect the areas where natural gold traps catch gold year after year.johnedoe said:
