Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-05
SALAD FOR CALIFORNIANS.
LObsters Successfully Transferred from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific.

The problem OF transporting live Holsters across
the continent has been practically solved by the
United States Fish commission. This means that
the Pacific coast will be stocked with New Eng
land Holsters. 4 shipment OF live Holsters and
lobster eggs left Woods Huh June TO- and arrived
at Sacramento June -. They have been de-
posted In the Pacific at different points north and
south OF san Francisco. extending to the south
far Monterey. Several previous attempts To take
Holsters across the continent have failed shippers
Of Holsters send them in crates packed In seaweed
as FAR as Chicago but It Is said, only about one in
four survive the trp. Various ways Of shipping
holsters have been tested. They have been placed
In tanks Of salt water. but 1t has been found i'm
possible 10 carry sutCient quantity OF salt water
10 provide the necessary changes for long
journey.
HOW THEY WE'RE PACKED.
The packing Of the Holsters for the trip which
has Just been made was superintendent at Woods
Holl by Col. Mcdonald, the Fish Commissioner.
Advantage was taken OF the successful results OF
experiments made at Woods iiOil by the late capt.
Chester lie devised a crate or box which was
placed within another box, the intervening space
being nlled with pOundeI ice In the inner box
inc tpsterS were placed between layers OF rock
weed, which at times was MO~teHed with sea
water Each box lad an independent drain, -
the fresh water cotid hot enter the lobster uox.
Ia this apparatus he kept Holsters fifteen days,
and 1t the end OF that time they appeared Wig
OrOuS as when frSt taken from the SEA y Fish
Commission car was used Tor tile shipment and
The boxes along the side OF the were used
the Ice boxes, the crates nlled with Holsters and
rock weed being PACKED IN them. one hundred OF
These crates, each containing six HOLSTERS, were
thus packed away. The temperature IN the boxes
Was Kept at about - degrees. Each morning be-
lore sunrise, the coolest part OF the day, there
general Inspection OF the Holsters, and any tnat
had died were removed. The nrst day fOrly-rve
died, and the second day hfty-rye. After that the
number OF deaths daily decreased Those that
died were IN an advanced state OF shedding and
were in poor condition when they started away
on THE PACIFIC SIDE.
Upon arriving on the Pacific side $50 Holsters
were left alive and vigorous One-haif OF these
were deposited south and the other half north OF
San Francisco. The distribution was made under
the advice Of Mr.. John Kedding, one OF the tish
commissioners OF California A part OF the money
10 pay the expenses OF the experiment was SUBJ
scribed by the people OF san Francisco. who have
taken much interest In the effort 10 introduce the
lobster OF The North Atlantic TO the waters OF the
Paclf1c- Capt. Tanner and the naturalists OF the
Aloatross, now lying at san Francisco. assisted in
the wor OF locating the settlers III their home
In the Pacific.
TEE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC.
The condition OF the water OF the Pacific on the
California coast north OF Monterey is quite similar
10 that OF the Atlantic OF the Massachusetts,
coast. The temperature Is about the same, e.
cept that IL does not vary 50 greatly. The lobster
on the Massachusetts coast crawls out to deep
water, where the temperature Is low IL Is thought
that the more equaOie temperature or the Pacific
viii enable the lobster 10 spend the whole year
In one spot With the Holsters We're taken 10000
lobster eggs with Matching apparatus The young
Holsters produced by these eggs Will be deposited
AT once In the sea- Greater expectations, however,
are based on the stocking OF Pacinc waters with
mature Holsters than upon the experiments IN
ARTIFICIAL propagation. The young Holsters have
To De placed IN the SEA almost soon as Matched,
as they begin 10 feed yoraciously. They are born
with good sense enough To know that lobster
makes delicious food, aud they attack one another
SaVasely and hungrlly. For a few days they swim
On the surface where they 1nd the food
suited 10 their early requirements. There their
destruction Is enormous In few davs The
Holsters walking OF crawling members are
developed, and he sinks TO the bottom where he
makes his home. The problem In lobster culture
now Is 10 devise means Tor keeping them In con-
nnefnent and safety until they have attained
strength and size suiriclent 10 protect themselves
from their millions vi enemies. Although q female
loosCer produces from l.. 90 10 900 eggs the IN
crease, IL Is calculated, il only great enough 10
Keep up their numbers. 80 out OF the Il, 600 or
lo,OOO eggs, when left 10 nature, II Is estimated
that not more than two become full grown
Holsters The eggs are destroyed in large numbers
by eels and other preJiaciOuS fishes The young
Holsters when hatchet are also destroyed IN great
numbers On the southern California coast Is
found now In great abundance species Of lobster
known as the saltwater Crdyfish or rock lobster
similar 20 that which aDOunds on the Medlter-
Ianean coast OF France. Ia the northern waters Of
California, however, no Holsters are found and
this new neid Will he occupied by the New Eng
Land settlers.