Or, by rapidly bending down their powerful tails, Lobsters are able to
shoot backwards through the water at a great pace. In our next lesson we
shall find that Prawns are also able to paddle forwards or dart
backwards in a similar way.
Lobsters, living and dead, are often on sale in the fishmonger's shop.
Like the Crabs and Prawns, they are usually caught in traps or pots,
baited with pieces of fish, and left among the rocks. The traps are of
various shapes, some being like bee-hives made of cane or wicker; others
are made of netting stretched over hoops, and more like a bird-cage in
shape.
The Lobster smells the bait in the trap, and hastens to get to it by
diving through the only entrance. Having enjoyed his meal he tries to
swim away; but there is no escape, and there he must wait until the
owner of the trap makes his usual "round" in the morning. Of course,
there is a rope to every trap, and a cork to mark its position.
[Illustration: HERMIT CRAB WITH SEA FLOWERS.]
Then the Lobster finds himself taken carefully out of prison; his claws
are tied to prevent him from fighting, and he goes to market with a lot
of other Lobsters.
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