a few facts about lobsters

At the end of our trip to Maine, we visited the Oceanarium, a lobster hatchery, to learn more about lobsters. I felt it was only fitting since I had so voraciously feasted upon them each day during that time. Here are a few of the more interesting facts:

True lobsters have two very powerful claws. One claw is sharp and used for cutting, the other is bony and used for crushing. Lobsters that have their heavy ("crusher") claw on the right are considered "right-handed" and the others are "left-handed". Some lobsters are ambidextrous, they usually favor the claw that is the largest. True lobsters have two very powerful claws. One claw is sharp and used for cutting, the other is bony and used for crushing. Lobsters that have their heavy ("crusher") claw on the right are considered "right-handed" and the others are "left-handed". Some lobsters are ambidextrous, they usually favor the claw that is the largest.

Rubber bands are placed around the lobsters' claws for the protection of other lobsters, not necessarily its handlers.

According to the Oceanarium, a local university did a comprehensive study of the nervous system of lobsters and concluded that it was not developed enough to allow them to feel pain. This was very comforting and I CHOOSE to believe this, even though I have read contrary reports on other websites. I do not remember which university was cited, but after all, it is an institution of higher learning that did the research . . .

Another source on the web (this time from the Five Islands Lobster Company reads), "For those of you who are concerned about cooking screaming lobsters, here are the facts. The nervous system of a lobster is decentralized and has been compared to that of a grasshopper. From what we know, this means they probably feel little or no pain. They also have no vocal chords. The sound you may hear is actually steam escaping from the shell as the lobster cooks. If you're still concerned about hurting the lobster, begin to cook it in cold water instead of hot. As the temperature rises, it will put the lobster to sleep. So will laying it on its back for a few minutes."

Female lobsters can store the male's sperm for up to two years and individually fertilize each egg (ranging anywhere from approximately 8,000 to 100,000 depending upon their age and size).

Somewhere between 80% an 90% of the lobster produced in the U.S. originates from Maine.

The lobster population in Maine is experiencing healthy growth, which means we don't have to feel guilty for enjoying its flavorful deliciousness.

I close here with the oft heard statement, "You are what you eat."