Until the end of the 19th century, lobster was also used as a bait to capture other fish. During the early 1800s, New York and Boston residents began seeing lobster in a whole new light. In 1850, as the demand for lobster again increased, fishermen off the coast of Maine devised the lobster trap and began capturing and then selling the higher priced live lobster. Within ten years, the popularity of lobster had spread and canneries began canning lobster meat and shipping them to areas where fresh meat was unavailable. By the time World War II was coming to an end, lobster was considered a delicacy.
American lobsters have two strong front claws, which are used for eating and tracking prey.
They are gray, black or brown in color with blue underbellies. American lobster are solitary creatures. Lobster tail most often comes from this species, which are most commonly found off the coast of Florida. Spiny lobsters have no claws and carry a spine studded shell. This lobster often shares dens with others and prefers to socialize, unlike all other species of lobster.