lOO The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



difficult to buy a lobster, excepting of a diminutive size 

 without breach of contract, or paying comparatively an 

 exorbitant price. 



The number exported annually from Norway ranged in 

 the early part of the century from 600,000 to 800,000 ; from 

 1825 to 1829 it was higher, reaching an average of 1,280,000; 

 in 1848, 607,282 were sent away. The annual export from 

 1853 to 1859 was about 800,000. In the ten years ending 

 with 1870 the average number shipped was 1,500,000. In 

 the last five or six years the number has fallen somewhat 

 below 1,000,000. 



The number of lobsters exported was in — 



The lobster is the largest and most useful ofthe crus - 

 taceans of Europe. It is met with along the whole coast 

 of Norway up to the Arctic circle, in the sea and in the fiords, 

 but especially between Christiania and Loudmore. 



The fishery for lobsters is well regulated on all the 

 coasts of Sweden and Norway as far as Molde. It is pro- 

 hibited between the 15th July and iSth October. Each 

 boat has about 30 bow-nets, and wooden cases with open- 

 ings at each end, having the form of elongated casks. 

 They are sunk about 38 fathoms deep by means of 

 stones, after being baited with waste fish, and are examined 

 night and morning. The claws of the lobster are fastened 

 that the animals may not injure each other, and they are 

 shipped in fast-sailing, welled vessels that hold from 15,000 

 to 20,000. About 3,000,000 are taken annually in Norway 



