122 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



sters for shipment in dry wood shavings used under, over, 

 and surrounding the lobsters. This was in place of the time- 

 honored barrels with ice and seaweed. The saving in weight 

 was phenomenal ( 50 pounds of lobsters packed the old way 

 weighed 140 versus 58 pounds when packed with shavings ) . 

 This packaging has not come into general use, probably be- 

 cause it does not preserve the lobsters well in summer, 

 though it does suffice in the colder wintertime. 

 It is a real nuisance to remove the shavings. 



Another experiment in shipping was to seal the live lob- 

 ster in a transparent plastic bag into which some kind of gas 

 had been introduced. The nature of the gas has not been 

 learned, but it maintained the lobster alive though in sus- 

 pended animation as if it were sleeping. When released 

 from the bag the lobster (one test) appeared lively and was 

 of good flavor. Apparently this process has been dropped. 



