ABOUT LOBSTERS 11 



processing, we can anticipate that fishermen will not ask for 

 assistance. 



Fresh Water 



Lobsters will not live in fresh or brackish water, al- 

 though it is debatable as to whether a slight admixture of 

 fresh water is harmful to them or not. They are caught at 

 the mouths of large rivers— as at Westport Island, Maine, 

 where the water is decidedly brackish on top, but when 

 placed in surface cars in the same locality they are said to 

 perish quickly, indicating that the water must be much 

 more salty at the bottom. 



Lobsters affected by fresh water, particularly in tanks, 

 will be swollen and puffy at the junction of the tail and 

 solid shell. This swelling is so typical that the lobster dealer 

 can usually diagnose the cause. 



Habitat 



The ranges of a lobster in depth are from low water to 

 225 fathoms. At such a depth the fishing with pots is un- 

 economical, the cost of so much warp is too great an invest- 

 ment, and the hauling of this much line takes too long. 

 Twenty fathoms is the usual fishing depth. 



Lobsters prefer a rocky bottom but flourish on gravel 

 or sand bottom, especially those partially covered with the 

 larger seaweeds such as kelp. This vegetation is not es- 

 sential, for in times past they were notoriously plentiful on 

 the bare sands off Provincetown. The kelp is probably at- 

 tractive in shading the lobsters and hiding them from ene- 

 mies. Lobsters apparently will live on any hard bottom 

 where they can find food. Mud bottom is rarely attractive 

 except in winter when some lobsters will burrow into mud, 

 and when caught have mud adhering to their shells. 



Bleeding and " Thrown " Claws 



Bleeding of a lobster can be caused by a lost claw or a 

 " thrown " claw. Soon after a claw is " thrown," the stump 

 is covered with a crust of coagulated blood which prevents 



