Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-07
LOOKING AFTER THE LORSTERS.
A New Task Undertaken BY the Fish
COmmissiOn-The Decrease In the
supply.

A bulletin OF the United States Fish commits
sion just issued contains an interesting paper,
by Richard Rathbun, upon the subject OF lob
ster culture. While the lover of lobster salad
may regret to learn from this paper that the
supply OF Holsters, as well their average size,
is rapidly decreasing on many portions of the
coast of America, he may take heart again
from the account OF the experiments which are
being prosecuted by the fish commission at
Woods holl. looking to the artificial propaga-
ton OF Holsters. The Matching OF small quanti-
ties of lobster eggs, as well the eggs of other
complished, from time 10 time, by members OF
the fish commission party interested In embry-
illogical studies, and the possibility of conducting
Matching operations on a small scale, andof carry
ing the young through at least the first few stages
OF growth, needed no further proof but the
question of how TO care for large masses OF eggs
and especially for the young after Matching, has
yet TO be practically determined. The expert
ments made with the eggs at Woods Holl were
made with Mcdonald Matching lars. II is prob.
able, Mr.. Rathbun says that the embryos cam
not be kept in the Mcdonald jar, as they swim
through the outlet tube. They can, however,
be transferred to large aquaria, to the large
wooden tanks now rugged ON the lower floor for
the keeping of fish, to floating I'm one Of
the basins. The last plan will probably an-
swer best when working on a large scale, as the
embryos will thereby obtain some food from
| the surrounding waters, while in both OF the
former cases food would have to be supplied
them.
kept I'm confinement nor at what age II would
be advisable to turn them over TO the care of
nature, but it will probably be possible to trans
port them alive TO any other portion of the
| eastern coast, as the distances are nowhere
great.
The eggs of lobster are comparatively large
(about one-twelfth OF an inch In diameter) and
hardy, and each lobster carries from about
10000 to $4,000, according TO its size.
THE DECREASE IN NUMBERS AND SIZE.
That decrease has taken place IN the num-
Der of Holsters, Mr.. Rathbun says, and that In
some regions it has amounted to a serious loss.
| is attested by the statements OF many fishermen
and dealers. All the states interested in the
lobster fishery, excepting New Jersey, whose
fishery Is small, have enacted protective laws;
but, either because these laws are inadequate
or are not properly enforced. they have failed
| TO stop the decrease, though they may have
checked il more or less. As "a result, the fishery
| is falling OFT in the United States, and we are
even how dependent, to greater or less extent,
on the British provinces for the supplies OF our
! larger markets. The same trouble exists in
Europe, where the lobster fishery is. OF course,
| Of much older date than in this country, and
where ii has been controlled by legislation for
many years. Many elaborate reports have been
published upon the European fishery by experts
appointed TO investigate its condition and
needs, but they are apparently at as much loss
and benefits of protection. In Norway, which
country possesses the most important European
| fishery, they have, a last resort, sought re-
lief through the aid OF artificial lobster culture,
and experiments 10 that end have been carried
on for several years.
One of the strongest evidences of decrease I'm
abundance is afforded by the continuous de-
crease In the average size of the Holsters sent to
| the markets.