Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-04-09
HUNTING THE LOBSTER.
PLACES WHERE BIvALvES HAVE
A FINE FLAVOR.
The Bait Used to Attract the Lobster
Into the Net-New England IA
nous catches-A Feast
Fit for an Epicure.

for their size and beauty. and the
fishermen who go out to catch "lobs"
claim that those caught in certain To-
calities along the coast have favors
peculiarly their own. South OF Jer-
sey they are very scarce. poor in
quality. and as different in flavor from
the ones found further up the coast as
Blue Point oyster is different from
its muddy cousin found growing in
some brackish river bottom. Even
along the New England coast they
show decided preferences for certain
localities. being more abundant larger
and of finer flavor in some bays and
| harbors than in others.
The Holsters put on sale in the Full
ton market give one a general idea OF
their appearance, but when floating
around in their native element has a
\ higher appreciation of their import
ance and individuality. They are not
to be triaed with and many attempts
at familiarity are pugnaciously re-
sented. They have TO be approached
very carefully. and lured into traps by
! tricks well known TO the fishermen.
4 State fish-the sculpin opened length
wise usually-is the bait that attracts
the Holsters into the mcshes of the
shallow net from which there Is no
escape. These nets are small but
stout and attached to buoy or float
! by several drop ropes.
The Holsters prefer rocky bottoms
whore they live on clans, mussels and
mollusks. In the spring OF the year
they come in from the deep water and
remain in the harbors and bays until
! fall The lobster season opens, and
the old salts mend up their nets and
begin 70 repair TO some favorite ground
near the coast Two or three nets
aad a large basket are all the require
ments necessary for a lobster hunt.
Moonlight nights are the proper time
TO start on such nm excursion. which
means business as well as pleasure for
the fishermen. When the lobster
ground is reached. the first net is
baited with dead fish and quietly
dropped overheard. The boat is then
showed on TO another good place and
the second trap set for the unwary
crawlers Of the deep.
When three or four nets are thus
set ii is time 20 haul up the first one
This Is brought to the surface care
fully, and as the water drips through
the meshes several fine dark green
'lobs' throw up their large claws
and try to get snap at the enemy.
They are savage when brought to bay
in such manner. and none but an old
hand at the business would dare TO
lift them out of their uncomfortable
position. But the old fisherman seizes
one deXtrously just back OF the large
claws, and holds the enemy in such a
manner that the heavy claws are really
harmless.
The catch is then deposited into the
basket and the net set for the second
haul. The next net is pulled up in
the Same way, and the boat soon gets
pretty well loaded down with the
srawlcrs
During the summer months seaside
visitors on our New England coast
organize lobster hunts" which are
usually very pleasant affairs Two
boats carry party Of five or six to
the lobster grounds where the guide
tells them that ''lobs" are to be found.
In addition TO the nets and baskets a
large boiler is brought along. On
some prominent rock which overlooks
the lobster grounds they build fire
and securely fasten tho boiler in some
crcvice just over the flame Clear
spring water is poured into the boiler
which soon begins TO sputter and hiss
ms the fire burns up brightly.
| When Il dozen or more Holsters have
been caught they are brought to the
rock and dumped into the boiling
water There is n brief struggle for
life and then all is quiet again. Some
crackers and cheese are meanwhile
produced and acircle is formed around
the fire and the boiling Holsters The
light OF the moon casts pale weird
shi0ows on the dark rocks. while the
sea waves dance and sing monoton.
ously below. When the cover of the
boiler is finally removed the beautiful
green OF the shells has taken on a
bright red. The shells are easily
broken, and as soon as the meat has
cooled sufficiently each member OF the
party secures trophy and begins the
feast OF the epicure.
These excursions are indefinitely
prolonged. Sometimes the difficulty
in getting good supply of the crawl
ers prevents an early return to the
hotel, while the appetite OF the excur-
siunists, sharpcned by the salty air
and the excitement of the sport oc-
casionally keeps the party out until
the small hours of tho morning, The
time for returning, however is usually
regulated by the moon, as it is moi
pleasant to be on tho water when every
thing Is wrapped in darkness.
The Oath Was Admissible.