The well-known and delicious shell-fish, the Lobster, is found in great
abundance in all the northern parts of Europe. The north of Scotland
is famous for the Lobster, but it is still more plentiful on the coast
of Norway. The crab is more frequently found in shallow water, but the
Lobster prefers those spots where the water is of considerable depth.
The methods of taking Lobsters are various,—the most usual is by means
of what are called Lobster-pots; these are a sort of trap, formed of
twigs, and baited with garbage; they are made like a wire mouse-trap,
so that when the Lobsters get in there is no possibility of returning.
These pots are fastened to a cord, and sunk in the sea, their place
being marked by a buoy. Another method of taking them is by means of a
kind of bag-net, baited with animal substances. This fishery is only
carried on in the night. They are brought in vast quantities to the
London market from the Orkneys and from the Norway coast.
Lobsters are much alarmed at the noise of thunder, or any other
sudden shock; the consequence of which is, that in their fright, they
frequently cast their claws. This also often happens when the poor
creatures are thrown into the boiling-pot. As these animals frequent
clear water, their habits have been more noticed than those of the
crab. Their mode of feeding is sufficiently curious. In general, the
pincers of one of the large claws are furnished with knobs, while
the other large claw is more like a saw on its edge; holding, then,
its food in the knobbed claw, it dexterously pulls it to pieces with
the other. Their movements in the water are exceedingly graceful and
lively, and they are capable of darting forward to a considerable
distance with the rapidity of the flight of a bird. Their colour, when
in their native element, is not black as might be imagined, but a
beautiful deep blue.
A whimsical idea of the horror Lobsters are said to have of pigs, seems
to have prevailed in some parts of the Continent. It is said that in
Brandenburgh, where the fishery is very abundant, the wagoners who
transport them by land are obliged to keep watch during the night, to
prevent swine from passing the wagon, for if one only was to go by,
they say, not a single Lobster would be alive in the morning!