CRUSTACEANS AS FOOD 297 



cockle is an " unclassified " shell-fish. But most of us have seen 

 small detachments of this mollusc displayed for sale on stalls, 

 with vinegar and pepper as accompaniments, and have specu- 

 lated as to what kind of customer might be expected. And we 

 have the significant fact that, in 1902, 7 tons 18 cwts. 2 qrs. of 

 cockles were seized and condemned at or near Billingsgate 

 Market. 



The Periwinkle (Littorina littorea). The popular 'winkle is 

 gathered between tide-marks on many parts of our coasts, the 

 greater part of the London supply being derived from Scotland. 

 The large quantity of 54 tons 5 cwts. was seized and condemned 

 at or near Billingsgate Market in 1902. 



CRUSTACEANS (CRUSTACEA) AS FOOD 



We are here chiefly concerned with Lobsters, Prawns, Shrimps, 

 and Crabs (fig. 1217), though these are far from being the only 

 edible species. 



The Lobster (Homarus vulgaris). Of all large crustaceans 

 this is the most esteemed in this country, and vast numbers are 

 annually consumed. Along the rocky parts of the coast of the 

 British Isles, Norway, Canada, and many other countries, lobster- 

 fishing is a very important industry. A large part of the English 

 supply is derived from Scotland, for which the yield in 1902 was 

 786,400, valued at ,37,114. The home-supply is by no means 

 equal to the demand, and our imports of lobsters, fresh and 

 canned, are very considerable. Of the former we relied upon 

 Norway for 38,538 (worth about ^"1850) in 1902, and upon 

 France for many more. Lobster -canning is an important in- 

 dustry for Newfoundland, Canada, and the United States. It 

 should be added that the American Lobster (H. Americanus) 

 is not of the same species as our native form, though closely 

 allied. 



Lobsters are caught in " pots " or " creels ", contrivances of 

 the nature of traps, constructed of a wooden framework covered 

 with netting (fig. 1218). Fish-entrails or other garbage is used as 

 bait, the creel being sunk in a suitable spot by means of stones, 

 a cord with a cork at the end serving to mark the spot. 



Lobster-fishing has to be regulated with considerable strin- 

 gency, as it is only too easy to deplete the supply. Hatching has 



