The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-12
LObsters.
Their Habits, Fo' and Growth.

Their HABITS, FO' ana Growth'
A letter from s. M. johnson, of
Scituate harbor, gives the following in.
terestine information about the habits
of the lobster The time when they
draw into shore for better supply OF
food varies very much in different To-
calities. We find them coming in as
early of March or April in some places,
while in others they do not make their
appearance until May or June. Nor is
their time of going or coming the same
from year to year. Indeed they seem
to be somwhat erratic in their habits,
and on that account comparatively little
is known about them and any observa-
tion made this year, however carefully,
might the next lead to quite different
conclusions. We mention this merely
to show that in seeking for information
we should not take the evidence of any
one person as conclusive, though it
might be perfectly correct SO far as his
observation went in that particular To-
cality. They seem to move quite rapid
ly in their migrations, staying in one
placo only long enough to consume
what food presents itself. They move
in solid column, the larger and stronger
last end of the school presents sorry
appearance, composed as it is OF the
small, manned and i'll conditioned.
They move on in this order until they
find themselves on the shaler grounds,
where the great variety and abundance
of food seems to satisfy them 4; the food
consists of muscles, CLANS, periwinkles
and the like. I would say in this con-
nection that though voracious in their
habits, they are epicures as well in their
choice of food, and are not easily en-
ticed into traps except with the fresh
est of bait. They remain on these
grounds the greater part of the summer,
many seeking the sandy banks and
rocky crevices where they shed their
shells, remaining in semi-torpid con-
dition during this change, venturing
forth again as the shell becomes sufi-
GENTLY hard and they become strong
enough to defend themselves against
nearly all kinds of fish, as they are
easily captured and eaten while in this
soft state. AS the season advances we
find them moving off shore in as hungry
a condition as when they came in the
spring. 1t is probable that they seek
the deeper waters of the bay in winter
for the protection it affords during our
severe storms and for the warmer
temperature of the water, which is more
congenial to them. In general way
this covers their movements so far as is
known. OF their organism and struc-
ture, though curious and interesting, it
is hardly necessary to speak further, as
the practical results we wish to bring
about are not to any great extent infu-
enced by knowledge of this point, ex.
cept in the manner in which they in.
crease in size or grow. This change
takes place only as the shell, which has
become full, is sloughed off, another o.
larger size taking its place, the new one
being fully formed under the old, ant
having something the appearance Of
India rubber, being very flexible ant
elastic. The time when the change
takes place depends upon circumstances
but it is quite evident that all HOLSTERS
do not shed every year, and never do sc
until they have fully filled the old ones
which is done more or less frequently
according to the quality of food the1
have been able to obtain.