888 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



shrimps and prawns 1,537,107 kilos (of 2 lbs.) were 

 caught in France in 1876. Of the larger crustaceans the 

 supply to France in 1878 was 1,466,249, and of shrimps 

 and prawns 1,369,741 kilos, in weight. The number of 

 crustaceans brought into the French markets by their 

 own fishermen in 1879, was 1,790,463. 



From an establishment at Roscoff, Paris receives 

 annually not less than 30,000 lobsters, and Russia, 

 Belgium, and Germany also make large demands upon 

 it, 1,500 being often sent off at a time. They are fed in 

 these enclosures or tanks, with sharks, conger eels, and 

 other waste fish, as they are very voracious. 



Mr. Richard Scovell has, at Hamble near Southampton, 

 a large reservoir in which 50,000 lobsters can be kept 

 alive for at least six weeks. Vessels are employed in 

 visiting the fishing grounds and bringing in from 5,000 

 to 10,000 lobsters each. 



The largest crustacean is the spiny lobster {Palinurus 

 vulgaris) which often weighs as much as twelve or fifteen 

 pounds. It was in great esteem amongst the ancients, 

 Lwho denominated it Locusta. 



Crayfish. — In Victoria there are no true lobsters and 

 no crabs fit for the table, except a spiny crayfish, of 

 about the same size and shape as the English species, 

 which is supplied abundantly to the market. It as 

 nearly, or quite identical, with the A. annulicornis. The 

 gigantic Murray river crayfish {Astacoides serratus) is sent 

 down alive in great numbers to the markets for the 

 table ; the smaller river crayfish {Astacoides quinque- 

 carinatus) is also often eaten in the country. 



In France the government has granted an appropriation 

 by which more than 300 rivers and brooks can be 

 stocked with German crayfish. Even these are not 

 sufficient for the great demand, and large numbers are 

 still imported from Germany. From Styria fattened 

 crayfish have been sent to Paris by Baron de 

 Washington. 



Our river crayfish (Potamobius astacus) is largely 

 caught, and when fresh boiled is a dish not to be despised. 



