SHELLFISH 91 



When hatched the young lobster larvae leave their 

 mother and float up to the surface water, where they 

 develop ^or a time among the plankton. During the 

 larval period the lobster is a iree and active swimmer. 

 The young larvae are consumed in large quantities by 

 fish such as herring, mackerel and sprat, especially 

 during the summer months when they are most abundant. 

 While developing into a complete lobster it passes 

 through at least three distinct changes of form. \Vhen 

 the larva has attained the length of about f in. it already 

 possesses many of the characteristic features of the 

 adult. Soon afterwards, it sinks to the sea bottom and 

 gradually grows into a complete adult. During the 

 growth of the lobster it frequently casts its shell and 

 grows a new one. Growth only takes place when the 

 shell is cast and while the new shell is hardening. During 

 the first few weeks of its life the lobster casts its shell 

 about once a week, but this casting happens less and less 

 frequently as the lobster grows older. The new shell 

 is formed beneath the old one, and although at first 

 quite soft rapidly hardens when the old one has been 

 cast off. Most adult lobsters cast their shells in 

 July, August and September. 



A lobster grows slowly, and when from 9 to 10 ins. 

 long is probably from four to five years old. It becomes 

 mature when about 6 ins. long that is when about 

 three years old. 



The lobster is usually caught in creels or " pots " 

 baited with portions of stale fish generally flounder, 

 skate, eels, etc. Lobster fisheries tend to deteriorate 

 in value very rapidly Owing to the lobsters' keen sense 

 of smell, the method of capture by means of creels or 

 pots is very efficient, so that the lobsters are caught in 

 great numbers, with the result that the fishery soon 

 shows signs of exhaustion, the average size of the lobster 



