Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-07-23
FROM EGG TO SALAD.
How HOLSTERS Grow--A Fish Culturists
Experiments at Woods HoIi.

How Lobsters Grow--A Fish CuIturist's
Experiments at Woods HolI.
That the Holsters spawn in the fall and
winter months is certain, and it is
equally certain that a few are found
with eggs late in the spring and summer,
and it may be possible that certain in
dividuals cast their spawn at all times of
the year. The female carries the eggs |
upon the appendages beneath the abdo-
men, OF tail, as it is popularity called, |
where they are attached to the swim |
merets, and are there retained until
Matched, a process which occupies four
or FIVE months during the winter, and |
may perhaps be accomplished in much |
less time in spring or summer when the
waters are warmer. The eggs when first
laid are quite small and very dark, but
increase in size as the embryo grows,
and become more transparent, so that
the fish culturist can estimate the extent
of the development by the appearance of
the egg. 1t is somewhat doubtful if the
eggs are laid between August and No
vember, although they may be carried
by the female through those months.
forming in the female lobster, there is
peculiar bright red substance found in
the abdomen, which is known to cpl
cures as the coral, because of its re-
semblance in color to that product. This
substance is the undeveloped ovary, and
later would assume a graduated form,
before its subdivision into eggs.
At this place it is most interesting
| sight TO see the different jars containing
Holsters in the egg and others in differ
ent stages of development a young
lobster looks as unlike its parent as can
well be imagined. 1t has not the large
claws developed, and a straight, sharp
spike projects from the forehead between
the two large round eyes which look out
from above. Its legs seem covered with
hairs, and it's jointed abdomen with
spikes. The end of its tail is deeply con
cave, and the larval lobster would be
taken for almost anything but what it is.
When Matched it is about one-third of
an inch in length, and takes food as
soon as it is out of the egg. There is no
possible way in which a lobster can
grow without casting its skin, or mout-
!
pletely as those crusaders who vowed
when their armOr was rveted upon
them never to have it taken off until the
sepulchre was rescued from the hands of
the infidel This is the case with all
crustaceans that cast their shell and
grow 50 rapidly within few hours that
it seems incredible that they could
ever have been contained in it: and dur
ing this period, when they are soft and
liable to become prey to others Of their
kind, or to fishes, they hide away under
stones or other places Of concealment
and wait until the new skin hardens. 1t
is at such time that the common blue
crab becomes the soft crab which Is 50
toOthsome, and is eaten entire minus the
gills and sand-bag or stomach.
The young lobster goes through three
distinct changes or mouths before it Is
complete. At Matching it is, as stated
above, one-third of an inch III length
after the second mOult it will measure
nearly one-half an inch, and after thu
third moult it will be fully five-eights OF
an inch in length, and will then be a
, lobster in the full meaning of that
WOru, WIN Ill lne dDuOllllildl sWllHlleI'
: cts and armed and equipped as the law
: directs. a curious thing about them i:
: that during moulting the adult is slug
J gish and hides away while it is soft, but
| the young before the third moult is act
= i've, and swims continually up to the
? time of its third moult, after which il
2 settles down to steady habits
When the writer visited Woods HOl
r there were none that had passed through
the third moult. but all were feeding
At Woods Holl they are fed upon the
meat of crabs. The first mOult occurs
at the age of from four to five days
. The second is not 50 well defined il
t point of time, and probably requires
twice that time and is dependent, as il
the case ST adults, upon food and condi
ton. The third moult, which completes
the structure of the animal, requires
fully three weeks.
The young are attracted by light II
the aauaria and swim up against thu
glass toward it, but settle down near thu
e bottom at night, and are much given t.
p eating any of their fellows which are il
the soft state.-Fred Mather in n. y
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