A lobster believed to be some 140 years old is to be freed from the confines of a tank at a New York restaurant.

George the giant lobster, weighing 20lb, will be returned to the ocean, from where he was caught two weeks ago.

The crustacean was bought for $100 by the City Crab and Seafood and quickly adopted as its mascot, posing for pictures with restaurant patrons.

But animal rights group Peta sought the lobster's release, and will now put it back into the waters off Maine.

It will enter the ocean in the waters around Kennebunkport, where lobster trapping is banned.

George was originally caught off Newfoundland, Canada, and has spent about 10 days in the tank at City Crab and Seafood.

The approximate age of a lobster can be deduced from its weight.

thanks to Lan of BelizeFirst.com

Here's some big ones....

http://AmbergrisCaye.com/photogallery/070805.html
http://AmbergrisCaye.com/photogallery/071016.html

from a friend, commenting on the picture links above...

That is big but when I lived in the Bahamas one of the guys brought them in bigger than that.....He would go diving off the deep side of Long Island, Bahamas...no one else would dive on that side. ....the tail was longer than a man's hand and arm up to his elbow. Never seen any that big before....or since.