New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-09
GROTIyG SCARCITY OF LOBSTERS.

,nv,vcrvo EVERY YEAR-MoRE STRINGENT
LAWS AND SUCCESSFUL ARTIFICIAL PRoPA-
CATION THE ONLY HOPE FOR RELIEF
"Iobsters are growing scarcer every season.. said
Eugene c. Blackford OF Fulton Market. ex-presi-
dent OF the New-York State Game and fisheries
Commission Yesterday, land they are selling for
from Is to IS cents pound which is one to TWO
cents a pound dearer than they were on the cor
respondng date OF last year. The only nope TOT
relef in the situation seems to be in the somewhat
mathematical success OF their artificial propagation
While | was president of the Commission the SUD-
iect was given much attention, and has since theh
been carefully considered and strong efforts made
TO increase the supply. 1t may be that ultimately
a supply commensurate with the demand VIII be
secured but not In the immediate future.
T. ID Huntington ST.. who recently retired from
the presidency OF the Commission. mad this 10 say
81 obsters have been steadily growing scarcer FOR
several years despite the efforts OF this commission
70 supply the deficiency BY artificial propagation
There are several causes for the diminished supply
The oyer-catch has been great the female loos'et
having been taken both in and out OF season anu
given little or no opportunity fer spawning men,
again the enormous canning business carried OH III
Newfoundland Maine and Massachusetts has ap-
sorhed much of the annual catch: Improved tacii-
dis ~ Transformation by of refrigerator rail-
load cars has also seriously affected the eastern
ma varaI Years past been freely distributed in
remote inland towns. where they had never oee'i
before. III, - ,oA..ors that ara
only nine inches In length IS permitted by Law III
his state while in Maine and Massachusetts. whence
we receive large supplies 1t Is unlawful 70 captuIs
and sell any that less than ten ana ohe-hai,
inches long II a Jaw like that could De enacteu
and enforced here II would be beneficial ana the
supply would gradually increase. though perhaps
moi in full proportion 10 the increasing deinahu
The limited force at the disposal or the baine
and Fisheries Commission Is Inadequate LOT tne
prevention OF all violations Of the law and there are
undoubtedly, many snort Ioos'elS s'""ee'' INV
the metropolitan market 49,. s ,.ora
..I,v, af,a
ago by the United States Fish Commissioners az
IT, famous Woods Hole hatchery showed tnat,
even with the most careful manipulation or me
lobster eggs fully % per cent OF the loV5i"W WIN
which the experiments were made were spoiieu ~
handling The 'swimmerets, or Try. are very SINAI
and require from five to seven years 10 IeVeiop my
iobsters ten and a half inches long. me expert
ments at Woods Hole showed that the female Iop,
sters Welded an average of about fourteen thousand
Co.'s each hut despite the fecundity OF the fe-
raIe Tho many eggs spoiled In handing ana the
surreptltlous marketing OF immature lobsters mas
i,esn sufficient 10 keep the supply down 10 MINI
NAM and i'm fact 10 cause its decrease wnlle the
demand Is steadily increasing 49,,
American Holsters are highly esteemed aDroau,
and the Weather classes Of transatlantic cities
scenn 10 be determined 10 nsune thein regaruesS
~ the cost An American VINO recently r,,uIheu
from Paris said that gourmets IN the gay frehc.
canital do not hesitate to pay y % Tor portion o.
,sInrican Lobster served In American style II
,1nnulJ seau that unless more stringent laws De
nacted and enforced artificial propagation speed
N,, becorne more successful. that toothsome sneiI
dsh VIII I'm the future. tickle the pala'es Vi
only millionaires.