CHAPTER XIII.

THE OCEAN AND ITS LIVING WONDERS (_continued_). The Crustaceans, a Crusty Set—Young Crabs and their 150 Peculiarities—Shells and no Shells—Powers of Renewal—The Biter Bit—Cocoa‐nut‐eating Crabs—Do Crabs like Boiling?—The Land Crab and his Migrations—Nigger Excitement—The King Crab—The Hut Crab—A True Yarn—The Hermit or Soldier Crab—Pugnaciousness—Crab War and Human War—Prolific Crustaceans—Raising Lobster‐pots—Technical Differences—How do Lobsters shed their Shells?—Fishermen’s Ideas—Habits of the Lobster—Its Fecundity—The Supply for Billingsgate—The Season—“Lobster Frolics” in British North America—Eel‐grass—Cray‐fish, Prawns, and Shrimps