26 MAY 1939, Page 6

As I expected, my comments on the injunction in The

Times, "Boil two small live lobsters," has brought me a good deal of authoritative information regarding the pre- ferences of lobsters in the matter of euthanasia. What gives them most satisfaction, it appears, is to be dropped into cold water, which is gradually brought to the boil. This process produces at an early stage an agreeable state of coma, from which the crustacean passes, unconscious, either into non- existence or into another and better world. The views of one or two representative lobsters on the attractiveness of the procedure are needed to carry full conviction, but in default of that I am quite ready to take it from my corre- spondents that it is a real kindness to these animals to drop them in cold water and bring it to the boil.