Think for a moment how much a dish of Lobster Wellington or Lobster Newburg costs — with just normal-size lobsters. How much would you pay for one 35 feet long and 25 feet high?
Its owner wants a proportionally-priced $250,000.
“Big Betsy” for years guarded the entrance to Treasure Village in Islamorada, Florida. But the Village closed in 2007, and Betsy disappeared in 2008. Now she’s for sale on eBay, with bids accepted until midday November 13, and a Buy it Now price of a quarter-million dollars (Interested shoppers should visit the site and type in “giant lobster”).
A quarter-million dollars may seem like a lot, given that scary skeleton statues and even entire museums go for a fraction of that price. But Betsy’s eBay page makes the argument that she’s hurricane-proof (unlike lobster inflatables) and that she “paid for herself within a year and a half” by enticing customers.
A lot of out-of-work bankers and brokers are supposedly moving to Florida; maybe one of them can trim a piece off of his or her golden parachute and purchase Betsy. She’s too good to be kept out of sight, and the World’s Largest Lobster title shouldn’t go elsewhere by default — even though the eager-beaver Canadians are already claiming it.
I’ve seen both this lobster and the one in Shediac, and it’s hard to say which one is bigger. What’s certain is that the one in New Brunswick looks a lot more like what we generally consider to be lobster. The Islamorada one has no claws!
The reason that the Florida lobster doesn’t have claws is because the lobster’s in the south are from warm waters. They don’t have claws. Will miss “Betsey” though.
[translated from Spanish] The reason why the giant lobster “Betsy” Isla Morada does not have claws like Shediac lobster is because it is a different species. The Isle of abode is the species Panulirus Argus — also known as spiny lobster or rock lobster. She lives in the marine and reef platforms of the low depth of coastal tropical and subtropical seas.
Think for a moment how much a dish of Lobster Wellington or Lobster Newburg costs — with just normal-size lobsters. How much would you pay for one 35 feet long and 25 feet high?
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I’ve seen both this lobster and the one in Shediac, and it’s hard to say which one is bigger. What’s certain is that the one in New Brunswick looks a lot more like what we generally consider to be lobster. The Islamorada one has no claws!
November 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
We don’t care about any other lobster. The Florida one is the biggest and best compared to the ones in New England. Our’s has more to offer.
December 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
The reason that the Florida lobster doesn’t have claws is because the lobster’s in the south are from warm waters. They don’t have claws. Will miss “Betsey” though.
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
[translated from Spanish] The reason why the giant lobster “Betsy” Isla Morada does not have claws like Shediac lobster is because it is a different species. The Isle of abode is the species Panulirus Argus — also known as spiny lobster or rock lobster. She lives in the marine and reef platforms of the low depth of coastal tropical and subtropical seas.