THE CATCHING OF LOBSTERS 



The pots are generally roped together, half a dozen or 

 a dozen at a time ; a weight or a stone is put into each, 

 and one after another is allowed to sink ; to the last one of 

 the series a buoy-line is tied and its upper end fastened 

 to a cork or keg. Sometimes the fish are so plentiful in 

 one spot as to keep a large fleet of boats occupied the 

 whole day in setting the tackle, and the catches are 

 brought ashore literally by the boat-load. 



A cargo of live lobsters are not the most desirable of 

 companions in a small boat ; an animal that has eight 

 legs, and fangs like pincers, is a sort of thing one likes to 

 keep at a distance ; for a nip of a lobster is rather like a 

 burn from a hot iron. The legs are a very variable num- 

 ber, for the lobster seems to have power to part with one 

 when he likes ; take him by the claw and he will wriggle 

 away, leaving the limb in your hand rather than allow 

 himself to be captured. One of the most curious facts 

 about the fish is its extreme sensitiveness to loud noises ; 

 if a gun be fired close to it, it will shed some of its claws 

 immediately, and the same thing will often happen during 

 a thunderstorm. These limbs grow again in course of 

 time. 



A very close relative of the lobster is the cray-fish or 

 craw-fish, which most of us, as children, have caught in 

 the rivers. Most of this species are small, but those 

 of the Indian rivers as well as the celebrated Tasmanian 

 cray are very large, and are eagerly sought by the local 

 fishermen. 



Far more variety exists where the crab is concerned 

 than among the lobsters. In common with the lobsters 



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