102 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



Feeding. It has been shown that lobsters can do with- 

 out food for more than three months at 60° F., and at low 

 temperatures refuse to eat. Maine noted that for the first 

 two or three days after lobsters were put into refrigerated 

 artificial sea water, they would feed, but after that period 

 they refused all food. They reported that the reason for this 

 behavior was unknown. Perhaps the chilling of the lobsters 

 and loss of appetite is a slower process than realized and 

 the lowering of oxygen consumption is very gradual. 



Acclimatization. The Canadian " Atlantic Biological 

 Station Note No. 137," states: "Lobster: take longer to be- 

 come acclimated than you might expect. If the salt content 

 or the amount of dissolved oxygen is suddenly reduced, it 

 takes the lobsters about a week to become acclimated. It 

 takes even longer to acclimate to changing water tempera- 

 tures. If, for example, lobsters are caught in deep, cool 

 water (50°F.) and held in warm water (65°F. ), they will 

 not become fully acclimated to the warmer water for at 

 least three weeks." A similar danger occurs when lobsters 

 are taken from a refrigerated truck and plunged into the 

 warmed summer water of a pound. Lobsters which have be- 

 come warmed in transit ( the baskets of caught lobsters in a 

 fisherman's boat) should not be immediately plunged into 

 very cold sea water. A shallow warmer pool as a vestibule to 

 the main pound might be the answer. 



The tank system. The tank is commonly made of wood, 

 but concrete tanks will serve. After a concrete tank has been 

 cast, it should be filled with a soda solution for several days. 

 Then it should be emptied, rinsed well, and scrubbed. 



It is essential to take care that the lobsters are not ex- 

 posed to some poisonous materials. Certain metals— even in 

 small amounts— have a dangerous effect. Copper and copper 

 alloys, e.g. brass, must be completely avoided when the tank 

 is built. Zinc and lead, galvanized materials, or materials 

 containing lead are also poisonous and must, therefore, not 

 come in contact with the lobsters or the storage water. 

 Aluminum, iron, and rust are not harmful to the animals. 



