The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-17
Lobsters.

When the young lobster leaves its parent
II seeks refuge in small clcfts OF the rocks,
or creviccs at tho bottom of the sea, where
1t passes the earliest days of its existence
in vagabond state, for period of from 80
to 40 days. During this time it undergocs
four different changes of the shell, but OH
the fourth it loses its natatory organs, and
is therefore no longer. able to swim on the
surface Of the water, but falls to the bottom
lying torpid and motionless, where il re-
mains for the future; according, however,
to its increase in size it gains courage to
approach the shore, which it had left at its
birth. The number of euemies which as
sail the young embryos IN the deep sea is
enormous. Thousands Of all kinds of fish,
mollusks and crustaCca are pursuing it con-
tinually to destroy it. The very changing
OF the shell causes great ravagcs at these
periods, as the young Holsters have to un-
dcrgo crisis which appears to be ncccs-
sary condition to their rapid growth. In
fact, every young lobster loses and remakcs
it's crusty shell from eight to ten times the
first year, five to seven the second, three to
four the third, and from two to three the
fourth year. After the fifth year the change
is only annual For some days before the
change the animal loses its usual strength
and vigor, lying torpid and motionless; and
just before casting its shell, striking its
claws against each other, every limb seems
to trcmblc. Then the body swells in an
unusual manner, and the shell begins to
divide-it seems turned inside out, the
stomach coming away with its shell. In
like manner the claws are discngagcd, the
lobster casting them off much rs person
would kick off a boot too big for him. For
several hours it now continues enfccblcd
and motionless, but in two days the new
skin becomes hardened, and within 4S hours
the shell is perfectly formed and hard, like
the one cast off. Below in his native cle-
ment the lobster reaches the age of 20
years, and loses foot or claw without fec
ling the loss, for he we'll knows it will
grow again. When suddenly alarmed by
peal Of thunder, or the report of can
non, its shoots its claws Immediately. No
part of the lobster is poisonous. The So
called "lady" is simply the cartilaginous
stomach, and would not be good eating be-
cause it is tough. The delicious "tom-
ally" is the liver, while the imprcgnated
eggs form the "coral" and are considered
a delicacy. The lobster is often caught in Il
kind of trap, or "lobstcr-pot," as it is
called. 1t is made with narrow strips of
board Or lath nailed upon strong hoops, so
as to give it an oval form upon the top.
Inside are placed stones to sink it to Ger
tain depth. At each end of the pot is a
network Of cord fastened to small hoop in
the centre of the net. Tough this hop of
six inches diameter, perhaps, the lobster
struggles to get the bait placed inside the
cage. But when once in he finds himself
a prisoner; for he cannot retreat at the same
door by which he entered. The situation
OF the trap is marked by u buoy, and is
visited at interval to remove the game and
make room for others. They are sometimes
caught with merely a piece of fish tied to
string-the lobster convey the bait to his
mouth with his claws and will let you
draw him to the surface if you do it quietly
80 as not to alarm him, but if he is fright
cncd in the least he is off like flash. You
must grasp the instant his horns are out of
the water. In this country the lobster is
found from the coast of New York north
ward; the beat are taken on the rocky
shores of New England, north Of Cape Cod,
Fishermen at Malshfield and Plymouth,
Mass, catch from $4,000 to 100, 900 a
year, which are sold to Boston dealers.
Great numbers have been put up in cans
and shipped abroad The packing houses of
Portland, Me-, send large quantities in tins
to England. , 1t is said that tho demand for
canned Holsters in America equals the
supply.