When Lobster Was Prisoner Food

Maine's lobster industry accounts for roughly 80% of all lobster caught in the United States and is the backbone of the coastal economy. Until the mid-1800s, lobster was considered poor people's food and was so abundant it was used as fertilizer and fish bait. Prisoners in Maine reportedly complained that they were being fed lobster too often. The development of canning technology and the arrival of railroads that could transport fresh lobster to Boston and New York transformed it into a luxury item, a reputation it has never lost.

Source: Maine Lobster