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. There are many lobster fisheries along the rocky
parts of our coast.

[Illustration: HERMIT CRAB WITH SEA FLOWERS.]

You will often see Lobsters with one very large claw, and one small.
They are able to throw off a limb or two whenever they are frightened.
Also they often lose a claw in the terrible fights of which they seem so
fond. If one joint of a claw becomes injured the Lobster has no further
use for it; he is wise, for his very life depends on his armour. So he
throws it away, not at the wounded joint, but at the joint above.

After a time a slight swelling appears on the stump thus made; this