Hard Shell Lobsters - has the hardest shell of all . They can be identified by looking at the underside of the claws of a live animal, black mottling indicates that the animal has a hard shell and has not moulted yet, once cooked, you'll need nutcrackers to get the shell off

Hen - a female lobster

Lobster Pot - see trap

Moult - to shed the shell in order to form a new one to accommodate the animals larger size as it grows

New-Shell Lobster - a lobster that has recently moulted and whose shell is still relatively soft . New shell usually do not get bands put on their claws because they are so soft they can't inflict any damage to other lobster, some shells may be so soft that the band may crush the claw pistol - see bullet

Soft-Shell Lobster - harder than the new-shell . The claws have hardened enough to be banded, once cooked, the shell can usually be removed with bare hands

Trap - a baited cage used to trap lobster