Maine Lobster Fisherman Demonstrates How to Put a Lobster to Sleep

There's room for humor here, but let's dive into this with a serious approach, or as serious as we can get.

The initial thought might be, "Just throw them in boiling water, right?" If that's what comes to mind, no worries, you're not alone in that sentiment.

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However, there's something intriguing about this. TikToker and Maine lobster fisherman, Jacob Knowles, demonstrates a step-by-step method to gently calm a lobster, a process he believes helps put them to sleep. Interestingly, the origins and how this method was discovered remain a mystery, but Knowles stands by its effectiveness.

The purpose behind this technique is somewhat limited. Knowles suggests that if you have reservations about boiling the lobster alive, this method might ease your conscience a bit. But truly, who knows for sure?

Within the lobstering community, there's a bit of controversy. Some argue that Knowles' method doesn't induce sleep but may, in fact, lead to the lobster's demise. To validate his claim, Knowles conducted an experiment. He peacefully "put to sleep" a lobster, affectionately named 'Sleeping Sally,' and placed her in a crate overnight. The following morning, a check confirmed she was indeed peacefully sleeping. 

And the verdict was clear— "Sleeping Sally passed the sleeping test."

Mainers have a fondness for their lobsters, and it's no secret. The American lobster, also known as the Maine lobster, is a prevalent creature in the Gulf of Maine, and it holds the distinguished title of Maine's official state crustacean.

So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you desperately need to calm a lobster, now you know what to do.