DECAPOUA. :iS9 



while those which were merely covered, or in such a manner that they 

 could raise a portion of their bodies above the suri'ace, lived as lonfj^ as 

 they were taken care of." 



Genus HoMARUS. 

 H. vulyaris, Edw. 



Lobsters are in plenty around the rocky shores of Ireland. From the 

 iron-bound North-eastern coast great quantities of them are now sent by 

 the regularly plying steamers to Glasgow. About Dublin, Dr. Ball in- 

 forms me that the flounder [Platessaflesus) is used as bait for the lobster ; 

 and at Youghal, that the best plaice {Platessa vulgaris), which would 

 bring a good price at market, are cut up for the same purpose. 



The lightest looking and most tasteful lobster-pot that I have seen is 

 that used at the South Islands of Arran (off Galway Bay). It is of the 

 form and about the size of a tenor-drum. The frame- work consists simply 

 of a small hoop at each end fastened to three almost equally light but 

 tough pieces of wood, so as to present the drum form ; over all a net is 

 stretched, having an opening in the centre of each end. The bait used 

 is fish. 



Genus Nephrops. 

 N. Norver/icus, Leach. 



Templeton says of this — " a rare species, but sometimes found in Bel- 

 fast Lough." I have heard of its being taken near Portaferry about the 

 entrance to Strangford Lough, and that it has been procured in numbers 

 off Dundrum on the Down coast, but specimens have not come under my 

 observation from these localities. It is brought in great quantities to 

 Dublin as an article of food, and is chiefly used by the poorer people. 

 Dr. Ball informs me that the species is very numerous in Dublin Bay, off" 

 the Pigeon House, and that hence the town is supplied ; he has taken 

 the Nephrops along with echini and star-fish from the stomachs of cod 

 bought in Dublin. 



Specimens have been obligingly sent to me from the island of Holy- 

 head (Wales) by Captain Fayrer, R. N. 



Nephrops Norcerpcus. — Neivcastle, Down, Sept., 185L — An old fisherman 

 here informs me, that this species is taken commonly between this and 

 the Isle of Man, by the trawl, in from 50 to 60 fathoms. These boats take 

 all their fish to Dublin, and hence it, and not Belfast, is supplied with 

 them. 



Nephrops Norvec/icus. — Oct., 1851. — Patrick Doran tells me, that on the 

 bank (25 fathoms water over it) off" Glassdrummond (Co. Down) he has 

 seen great quantities of these taken in trawl nets. The Nephrops goes 

 in shoals, and he has known several instances of above a ton weight of 

 them being taken by a boat in a day. They are doled out 5 or 6 cwt. 

 a day to the salesmen in Dublin, afresh supply turned out every morning 

 so long as they last. He says that, difl'erent from the Isocordia Cor, these 

 are taken on various banks, ott' Down, South, and Dublin coasts, or " be- 

 tween Glassdrummond and Dublin." 



Genus Crangon. 

 C. vulgaris. Leach. 



The shrimp, being an article of food, is noticed in several of our old 

 County histories. It is common on the sandy shores and adjacent saline 



