78 



behind, the caudal plates large. The clawlegs straitened, 

 the moveable finger large, but not met by a corresponding 

 portion in opposition. The following legs one-fingered, 

 those of the second pair having the next to the last articula- 

 tion large and ciliated. 



G. Ste.llata. M. Edwards' Crust., vol. 2, p. 313. 



Leach's Malac, pi. 31. 

 G. Deltura. M. Edwards' Crust., vol. 2, p. 214. Leach's 

 Malac, pi. 31. 



I find what appears to me to be the latter species, in abun- 

 dance in Ray fishes (Raia Maculata and R. Clavata) caught 

 in from 30 to 50 fathoms of water. 



ASTACIANS— SHRIMPS and LOBSTERS. 



GENUS HOMARUS: the rostrum armed with a few spines 

 on each side ; scale of the outer antennas very small and 

 like a tooth. The hands large, ovate, compressed. 



LOBSTER. H. Vulgaris. M. Edwards' Crust., vol. 2, p. 

 334. Astacus Marinus, Pennant, pi. 10, fig. 21. 



Lobsters are common among the borders of not very elevated 

 rocks, from close to the shore to the depth of about 20 fathoms. 

 It is certain that they are less abundant at present than about 

 the beginning of the present century ; for whilst now, with an 

 hundred pots, a dozen in a day is regarded as tolerable success, 

 persons now living have caught above an hundred in the same 

 space, and in one instance an hundred and forty seven. One 

 fisherman has taken 640 in a week, where now another has se- 

 cured only 300 in a season. The reason assigned tor this falling 

 off' is that the lishery'for congers is not followed as formerly ; 

 and it is certain that this fish feeds eagerly on them. Perhaps 

 however, too little is ascribed to the increased demand in the 

 market, and the consequent extension of the fishery ; for the 

 number of edible crabs has also diminished within the few 

 years that an advanced price has been obtained for them. On 

 the coast of Scotland, where it does not appear that fishes 

 likely to destroy them are less abundant than with us, Lobsters 

 are in great multitudes ; for Sir Win. Jardine informs us that 

 at Montrose, from 60,000 to 70,000 are annually sent to Lon- 

 don, at the rate of 2^d. for each Lobster of full size. 



Lobsters do not wander much from their accustomed haunts, 

 and hence the discovery of a new station is a fortunate circum- 

 stance for the fisherman; and each situation is found to im- 

 press its own shade of colour on the shell. The same means 

 are employed in fishing for Lobsters as for Crabs; but whilst 

 the Crab prefers bait perfectly fresh, the Lobster is attracted 

 by that which has hung up to become tainted, or has been pre- 

 served by salting. Some other particulars of this fishery are 

 given when speaking of the common crab. 



i 



