COMPOSITION OF LOBSTERS. 



811 



gone in. Only when it is very hungry, as is especially the case later iu summer, after the spawning 

 season and casting of the shell is over, is it less cautious and more ready to enter the traps. 



"The Lobster is best and fattest in the spring and early summer, while later in the summer 

 and autumn it becomes thin, in consequence of which the English will not take it during those 

 seasons." 



COMPOSITION OP LOBSTEES. According to a series of careful analyses by Professor W. O. 

 Atwater, of Middletowu, Connecticut, the composition of the flesh of Lobsters is as follows, the 

 figures given indicating the average results obtained from three specimens received from the 

 coasts of Maine and Massachusetts: - 



Proportions of edible portion and shell : Per cent. 



Total edible portion 39.77 



Shell . 57. 47 



Loss in cleaning 2. 76 



Proportions of water and dry substance in edible portion : 



Water 82.73 



Dry substance .. 17. 27 



Chemical analysis calculated on dry substance : 



Nitrogen _. 12.54 



Albuminoids (nitrogen X 6.25) 78.37 



Fat 11.43 



Crude ash - 10.06 



Phosphorus (calculated as PjOs) ...I 2. 24 



Sulphur (calculated as 80s) - _. 2. 47 



Chlorine_-- r 3.46 



Chemical analysis calculated on fresh substance in flesh : 



Water 82.73 



Nitrogen . 2.17 



Albuminoids (nitrogen X 6.25) 13.57 



Fat 1.97 



Crude ash 1.74 



Phosphorus (calculated as PaOs) . 39 



Sulphur (calculated as SO 3 ) .43 



Chlorine .59 



Nutritive value of the flesh of Lobsters compared with beef as a standard and reckoned at 100. 61. 97 



The chemical composition of the flesh of the European Lobster is stated by Mr. Frank 

 Buckland to be as follows: 



Nitrogenous matter 



Fatty matter 



Mineral matter 



Non-nitrogenous matter and loss.. 

 Water.... 



Flesh. 



Per cent. 



19. 170 



1.170 



1.823 



1.219 



76. 618 



100. (XX) 



Soft internal 

 matter. 



Per cent. 



12.140 

 1.444 

 1.749 

 0.354 



84.313 



100.000 



Spawn. 



Per cent. 



21.892 

 8.234 

 1.998 

 4.893 



62.983 



100.000 



In connection with this table, Mr. Buckland makes the following observations: 



"That phosphorus exists in large quantities in Lobsters may easily be proved. A Lobster in 



hot weather, when it ceases to be fresh, assumes a highly phosphorescent appearance when seen 



in the dark, equal, if not superior, to that of a glow-worm or luminous centipede. This light 



increases by friction . . . and this phosphorescent appearance is probably caused by the 



