CRUSTACEAN TACTICS. 81 



allow of the entrance, but not of the escape, of the 

 lobster. 



Each pot, on being hauled to the surface, was pulled 

 on board ; the next thing was to take out the prey, if 

 any were there. These were of four different kinds 

 the lobster, the most valuable of them all ; the sea 

 cray-fish, or thorny lobster, larger, but in less estima- 

 tion, the flesh being dry and somewhat hard; the 

 common crab, the value of which is generally appre- 

 ciated ; and the spider-crab, or maia, of little value as 

 food, though occasionally eaten. 



It was interesting to notice the different habits of 

 these species. The lobster was agile, but cool, and 

 thoroughly prepared for war, holding up its large, 

 formidable claws, widely gaping, in a reverted position 

 over the back, so that it was rather a dangerous affair 

 to get hold of one. The expertness acquired by prac- 

 tice, however, enabled the fisherman to dash his hand 

 through the entrance of the pot upon the animal's 

 back at the fitting moment, and suddenly to drag him 

 up stern-foremost. 



The cray-fish, active, but large and unwieldy, 

 seemed conscious that he had no powers of defence to 

 be compared with those of his cousin. The claws in 

 this species are small and feeble ; but, equally unwill- 

 ing to be made a prisoner, he endeavoured by agility 

 to supply the lack of weapons ; flapping round and 

 round the circle of the pot, by means of rapid and 

 forcible blows with his expanded tail. We noticed 

 the singular sound produced by this animal when 



