Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-03
Lobsters.
Interesting Facts About Their
Growsh and itAha's.
tr.a,u tho noston Globc.l


Among the many prominent enter
priscs in this city there ure few Of
which SO little is known nnd which
are moro interesting than the lobster
business. There are SIX hrnis ensag-
cd IN this trade, with combined
capital of over S2O0,OOO, requiring
nineteen vessels and largo number
of boats, giving employment to over
500 men. There arc 5,OOp,VJ0 Holsters
boiled in this city each year, and one
half of this number arc consumed in
Boston and vicinity, anu the balance
find ready market In New York,
Buffalo, Chicago ana other inland
cities aud towns. One Of the pioneer
firms in this city is that of johnson
& Young, the senior partner, Mr..
Francis johnson, having been cngag-
ed therein for nearly forty years, tie
last tweuty-seven Of which he has
been located Oh Warren bridge. Ills
six sons arc also e1igngcd i'll this
business, and to this fnmily is due the
credit in a great measure of the pres
enL advanced state >oisthis important
branch of trade. This firm boils not
far from 10000 Holsters a day, which
is equal to ten tons. All Holsters
suitable 'or boiling arc caught from
Cape Cod to Cape Sable, while those
caught south of Cape Cod are OF 10
value. With the present appliances
skill and knowledge OF the habits
of these "fsh," oSiy TWO thirds the
amount OF former years are now
caught, SO the constant drains by
packers east of Portland has fearfully
reduced the supply. 1t is thought
that unless the government protects
the growth of Holsters, III very few
years the scarcity will be SO great
that as an article of diet Holsters will
| be no more, as the price will be too
high for consumption. The only pro-
lection which can be given To the
growth Of the lobsteris that all small
ones be left to mature on the grounds
from which they are caught also that
the female Holsters be protected dur
ing the spawning season. Each fe-
male lobster carries from 1000 to
1000 eggs, which mature in from two
to three years. All Holsters come to
the shore to shed their shells about
once a year, but this depends in great
measure upon its growth, rs it is
discovered that the shell is not ahcd
unless the lobster is growing. The
grow tn OF the loostcr is with good
feeding grounds, is One pound year,
and the most desirable size is from
two to three pounds. Lobsters
weighing nearly thirty pounds have
been brought into this market, but
not for several years. Tie old notion
that these palatc-tempting "fsh''
should not be eaten during the
months of May, June, July and Au-
gust, the months which do not con-
tain the letter .'r'' in their names. is
fast passing away, as there is steady
increase of consumption during these
months.
Many plans have been tried by par.
ties in Maine and Massachusetts, for
the propagation and raising of lob
sters, but in no case have the results
been satisfactory. The nature OF
these animals requires space and va.
riety of food, with au even tenIpcra.
turc and large supply of water.
1t is known that Holsters have trav-
elcd twenty miles in ten days. Their
food CONSISTS of CLAIMS, muscles anu
pcriwinkles, and whenever HOLSTERS
have been confined 1t has been discov.
cred that they lose in weight. There
will be not far from 8,OOO,OOO cans OF
Holsters packed by Boston and Port.
land packing houses this season, all
of which find \ ready market in all
parts of the world. This great de.
inaId is what is threatening to de.
prive us of what nature has 50 boun.
iifuIly supplied us, and unless New
En.landers awake to the Importance
OF preserving the supply, this drain
will prove detrimental to all impOr.
tant interest.