LOBSTER-POTS. 



41 





SUN CORNER, FROM NEAR THE NEEDLES. 



CHAPTER V. 



ON the Alum-Bay side of the Needles there was no 

 swell to be felt ; but the meeting of opposing tides and 

 currents, the influence of the winds, and the rough rocky 

 bottom keep the water in a sort of perpetual boil. As we 

 approached the shore, we had to pass over a good many 

 lobster-pots, which we took the liberty of examining, and 

 found, among other contents, a great many soldier crabs, 

 which had established themselves in the shells of the com- 

 mon whelks : we did not rob the. poor people of their lob- 

 sters, but earned off the soldiers and a few species of crabs 

 which could only be useful to a naturalist. The Geology 

 of Alum Bay must be very interesting ; the cliff above it 



