the secret life of lobsters by trevor corson

'Lobster is served three ways in this fascinating book: by fisherman, scientist and the crustaceans themselves. The chapters are knitted together with rich stories about the people who catch lobsters, their families, the dangers they face.' -The New York Times 'Corson knows the lobster's secrets, and he'll tell. 'A fascinating story, blending science, politics and history. Or you can read The Secret Life of Lobsters-all fact!' -CBS Sunday Morning 'For hot stuff, you can pick up the latest Harlequin Romance, all fiction. The Secret Life of Lobsters is published by HarperCollins. The Secret Life of Lobsters began as a centerpiece article in The Atlantic Monthly that was included in The Best American Science Writing edited by Oliver Sacks. It also offers an intimate portrait of an island lobstering community bound by tradition but confronting change. Part popular science, part social history, The Secret Life of Lobsters provides a glimpse into the quirkiness of scientific endeavors and fosters an awareness of how our oceans can be harvested sustainably. Combing science, history, and folk wisdom, he explores the confounding reasons behind the fact that Maine's lobster catch has tripled over the past fifteen years despite the general decimation of New England waters by overfishing. From the slippery deck of the F/V Double Trouble, he witnessed firsthand the lives and work of a crusty band of lifelong lobstermen and a new breed of ecologists whose unconventional methods include underwater vacuum cleaners, robots, lasers, scent electrodes-and superglue. In his entertaining and edifying book, Trevor Corson takes us on a lively sea-sprayed voyage inside a world where fishermen and scientists have joined forces to uncover the mysteries-and preserve the future-of these clawed predators.Ĭorson worked for two years as a sternman aboard a lobster boat out of Little Cranberry Island, Maine.

And, perhaps most important, these astonishing animals are a sustainable resource that has provided a livelihood for generations of Maine fisherman. But it turns out that this aesthetically-challenged crustacean is so much more-a charming lover, a belligerent fighter, and a snoopy socializer with a nose that lets it track prey and paramour alike with the skill of a bloodhound. Consider the humble lobster: an unsightly creature from the sea that tastes awfully good with melted butter.

The secret life of lobsters by trevor corson