The evening world., 1891-05-15
ABOUT LoBSTERs and GRABS.
Monsters Of ByeOns Days, One Of
Which Would Feed q Regiment

Once upon time there were crabs and
Holsters in existence for which the modern
fisherman would have gone q hunting
with tho most improved weapons and
caution. says the Washington Star.
For example, in times antediluvian
there was a lobster which had body 8
feet long and could stretch IL feet with
its formidable arms. Positive knowledge
of this giant of long ago is conveyed by
geological research. 1t must have con-
tanned meat enough to make salad for a
regiment of soldiers.
In those days of long ago everything
grew to enormous dimensions, whether
animal or vegetable. Frogs were big and
active enough to leap at ono hop from the
Treasury Building to the Capitol, and
other creatures, particularly OF destruc-
tive sort, were in proportion.
Only few specimens are left to illus
trate the giant crustacean forms of that
ancient epoch. II is known how crabs
and Holsters are Matched from eggs, re-
sembling upon birth nothing 30 much as
the animalcule shown by the microscope
IN drop OF ditch water.
They are as unlike the shellfish they
are to become in mature life as grub is
unlike butterfly. In the case of a crab
the egg clusters are attached beneath the
animal after extrus;on, while with the
lobster they become fastened to the tail.
which by its tanning motion increases the
among the ova.
From the eggs of the lobster are Matched
creatures not III the least resembling their
parents-little fellows that swim with
feather-like locomotlon organs near the
surface OF the water. At tho end Of six
weeks they develop legs unless. as is
highly probable, they have previously
been devoured by fishes or other enemies,
becoming thereupon small Holsters of
familiar shape.
Having reached this stage Of growth
the young Holsters become walking ami
mails. and, sinking to the bottom, imme-
diately seek hiding places TO protect them
from their foes
The first experiments in the adaptation
of knowledge ON this subject to the artifi-
cial propagation of Holsters were made
simply in glass jars with sea water that
was changed daily.
Even under these primitive conditions
the newly hatched fry thrived and grew
to be of some size and healthy. And any
one VINO desires TO Thlse lODhtcIb ny Hhnu
can accomplish the purpose most quickly
by keeping the spawn bearing females IN
suitable ponds or tanks until the young
come out.
In raising the animals ON q large scale,
however, it would be best to separate the
eggs from the lobster and spread them
upon trays. allowing the water to perco-
late through. ms is done with salmon eggs.
BY this method much trouble would be
avoided. Rs we'll rs the expense of feed
ing the adult hen Holsters.
There is no reason apparent wherefore
the same success should not be attained
with lobsters as has been achieved with
salmon, which have been made to swarm
once more by myriads in streams depopu-
lated by imprudent fishing.
Already the Holsters on the North At
lantic coast are'rapidly vanishing, and un-
less measures are soon taken for supply
ing their place by artificial propagation,
there will be none left Apparently,
however, il will be entirely practicable to
turn out upon the depleted grounds many
millions of young lobster yearly. as soon
as proper plants for this object have been
established.
One thing in favor OF lobster raising,
as to cbeapness. IS that they prefer food
that's partially deoomposOd, and the waste
food of the towns, now thrown away,
might be most usefully employed by the
lobster hAtchOriSA. Stale fsh 10 esteemed
by HOLSTERS an especial delicaoy.
For the purpose OF lobster farm rocky