LOBSTER. 245 



has the following observation : " Lobsters do not stray 

 far from their haunts, and hence the discovery of a new 

 station is a fortunate circumstance for the fisherman ; and 

 each situation is found to impress its own shade of colour 

 upon the shell." 



Lobsters are frequently caught in pots, similar to those 

 which are employed for the capture of crabs, and by some- 

 what similar means ; but in some localities the pots are 

 differently shaped, being formed of nets, which are held 

 in a nearly cylindrical form by three hoops, one at each 

 end, and one in the middle. At one end the trap is 

 closed ; at the other it is entered by a funnel-shaped pro- 

 longation of the net inwards, like some rat-traps. Mr. 

 Thompson informs me of the capture of a lobster by means 

 of a hook and line, baited with a whelk, which was used 

 for taking cod. Whether the hook was taken I am not 

 informed ; but it is perhaps most probable that the lobster 

 held firmly to the bait itself, and suffered itself to be 

 dragged out of the water rather than quit its hold. 



It is a well-authenticated and indubitable fact, that the 

 lobster, as well as the common crab (Cancer pagurus), 

 and several other species of Crustaceans, not only shed 

 their claws and other limbs in case of severe injury to 

 them, but voluntarily. On being seized by one of their 

 limbs, the captive member is left in the possession of the 

 captor, and the animal escapes, leaving his arms on the 

 field of battle ; and it is also well known to fishermen and 

 other practical persons, that the same loss of limbs will 

 take place in violent thunder-storms. In the words of 

 the intelligent correspondent to whom I have already 

 had occasion to express my obligations, Mr. Saunders, 

 " they shoot their claws, especially after a thunder-storm 

 or the report of cannon, and whole voyages are destroyed 



