CRUSTACEA. 



87 



perfectly fresh, the lobster is attracted by that which is hung up 

 to become tainted, or has been preserved by salting". Some other 

 particulars of this fishery are given when speaking of the 

 common crab." 



Upon the authority of Mr. J. E. Saunders, the respectable fish 

 salesman of Thames-street, Mr. Bell says, that often during the 

 season the supply at Billingsgate is not less than 20,000 to 25,000 

 lobsters in one day. Most of these come from Norway, from 

 whence the supply is not less than 600,000. It is computed, 

 moreover, that not less than 150,000 reach London from Scotland 

 and the neighbouring islands. 



During the Commission which has recently been held in Devon 

 and Cornwall, it is quite clear that the apparent scarcity is due 

 to the increased number of fishermen, and the division of the 

 produce of the fishery among so many. 



Still, however, from increasing population, the demand is 

 gradually becoming greater than the supply. It would therefore 

 be desirable as much as possible to discourage the destruction of 

 lobsters while bearing spawn. The loss of one lobster in berry 

 is the destruction of some 60,000 to 100,000 young animals of 

 the same kind. 



In Bell's Crustacea I observe that he is indebted to Mr. Couch 

 for the following paragraph — speaking of the opinion that the 

 antenna) are thrown off at will or from injury, — I have not 

 found this to be the fact ; but subjecting the parts to blows or 

 fracture, both in short and long-tailed Crustacea, I have found the 

 creature suffering acutely from the injury, most so when just 

 emerged from the water ; but in no case have they rejected the 

 whole organ in consequence of the violence. If, however, it be 

 violently handled, a separation takes place at the terminal joint 

 of the peduncles in preference to any other place ; and from this 

 wound no stream of blood flows, but a fine membrane quickly 

 forms on the surface, by which all effusion is prevented." 



When the antenna) is reproduced it is curved in a spiral form 

 within a saccular case, and becomes extended when the animal 

 throws off its external covering in the next natural period of 

 moulting. 



On the same animal Mr. Bell gives the following statement on 

 the authority of Mr. Peach : — 



