The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13
HOW A LOBSTER DISROBES.
FULTON Market DEALER WATCHES
THE WHOLE OPERATION
Seldom Seen Because the Lobster Hides
While Getting Rid of His Shell Because
he Ia Then Practically Defenceless
The Torn Parts Rapidly Grow Again.

seldom Seen Because the Lobster Hides
While Getting Rid of His She'll Because
He Ia Then Practically Defenceless -
The Torn Parts Rapidly Grow Again.
"All young Holsters change their shell
several times year" said the Fulton Mar
ket dealer. and as they grow older the
change takes place less frequently. Unlike
other deep-sea animals. the shell OF the lob
ster does not grow with the body, therefore
nature provided them with clothes which
they could throw Oh when they begin to
mt too quick 1t may easily be seen. there
iore, that as some OF them grow to the
length Of forty inches, beginning their ca
reer at less than an inch in length, the
changing must take place a great many
times.
The lobster invariably leaves the coast
as the winter season advances. and seek
ing the deep water, escapes the extreme
cold weather and water. But, as the spring
approaches, back comes the lobster to the
coast to feed upon mollusks and other sea
rood In shallow waters. The shedding pro-
cess takes place usually during the hottest
months Of the year, and occasionally one
is captured by fishermen while the operation
the lobster usually hides away in the ere
vices of some rocky bottom OF the sea dur
Ing the transformation.
He shows considerable sense in this
matter of retiring at this period, for the
reason that he has practically no means OF
defence, his embryonic claws being soft
for several days after he has pulled them
out Of the old shells; and were he to re-
main in his usual haunts, he would, in all
probability be devoured by his fellow
denizens Of the sea. Connoisseurs OF sea
foods are very partial to Holsters that are
about to shed their armor. or Immediately
after. the operation has taken place, as
the meat is particularly hard and the flavor
more Intense during that period.
Il have made a study of this particular
crustacean, and have witnessed the dis
robing and robing operation on several oc-
casions Up at my house. have an i'm
provised saltwater aquarium. which con-
tains a collection gathered at various times
during my market business. and several
Holsters have used 1t as dressing room.
Il lad long desired to witness one OF
these operations, but l had been unable to
procure a lobster that was not too far
advanced to be OF any use, when one day
a specimen was brought to my place OF
business that, judging from his actions. had
reached the conclusion that his old suit
was becoming too small and a new one was
necessary. When placed upon a table, he
Immediately turned over on his back, and
at intervals Of perhaps five minutes, a
shudder ran through his entire body. even
to the tips of his claws and legs; but the
closest examination failed to reveal any
trace OF the parting OF the shell which
had observed in specimens that were far
Their advanced.
From his size and weght-he was ra-
Their SMALL thought that the shedding
process, which was about to take place,
would be the first that he had undergone.
80. I" determined to see the whole opera
t!on through. l carried him home. and
placed him In the aquarium AS soon as
he was In the water he made dash for
some shrimps. which were in a corner Of the
tank. After driving them away he made
an effort to get into an aperture formed
by some stones that had placed in the
same corner, but which was far too small
to allow him to get In
After several futile attempts to force his
body through the opening. he turned over on
his back and the shudders which had been
so noticeable down town began again. These
continued all night, and In the morning
found my lobster apparently in his last
agonies He lay on his back and rubbed his
legs convulsively together as II in intense
ho oil d Nh nd tark cd
himself violently upward by means Of his
tail. I suppose that these operations had
as their object the loosening of the claws
and limbs in their sheaths. but at that time
l feared that he was in his death throes.
THE spasms continued for an hour or
more, and efforts were apparently made to
burst the shell open from the inside A
faint line. hardly perceptible at FIRST, made
its appearance, running from the head down
the centre Of the back, and. after each con-
vusion became broader. Gradually the head
piece began to break close to the shell Of the
back, and as each break ran from the start
Ing point on the top Of the neck. the lobster,
after considerable violent effort. suddenly
withdrew his head from it's covering. leaving
the larger part Of his eyes in the headpiece
which hung from the shell as II It were
hinged
After the lobster had succeeded in the
division of his head he was apparently in
q very exhausted state. for he remained very
quiet for couple of hours. and paid no
attention to the shrimps. which were SWIM
ming close to him. l began to think the
operation had been too much for the lobster.
and that he was dead. but the shudders sud-
denly began again. followed by more wrig-
glinG and struggling, then the line which had
noticed the first thing in the morning broad :
ened out until the shell down the entire
length OF the back had split open.
Tho lobster gradually squeezed his left
shoulder out of Its armor by series Of
lunches, and after this was free the right
quickly followed in the same man
ner, the divided shoulder shells. which now
looked like open clam shells. hanging from
the under part of the body. The operation
looked so extremely painful and exhausting
that more than once thought OF Offering my