Lobster like cooler waters and a rocky seabed. Their color varies from region to region to match that of their habitat. Old lobsters, especially from American waters, can grow up to 27 inches long and over 20 pounds in weight. The lobster is a timid animal that hides in holes and under stones by day and searches for food by night. In summer it lives near the coast, in winter at depths of up to 165 feet.
Lobsters are most meaty just before they cast their shells and during the following month or two.
The claws of the male are especially sought after, as they contain more meat than those of the female. In many parts of the world, the female tail is considered the greatest delicacy. The northern lobster is by far the most hardy species on the market. It is most plentiful in Canadian waters, off Newfoundland and Labrador, so that Canada now has the largest lobster industry in the world. In its shell the common crab looks as if it is lying between two large, flat dishes.