The evening times., 1896-06-05
HATCHIhG THE lOBS1ERS
Fish Commissian Expects to
Collect 2OO,OOO.0OO EGGS.
MANY MEN ARE EMPLOYED
The Young Have Hard Time to
Reach Maturity, as They Form the
Prey Of Their Carnivorous Finny
kinsfolk-lndustry Expected to Eff
feet Gain of S5O,ODO This Season.

proving its work in every Important branch
where experiment has proved the value OF
its efforts. The whole bureau is ham,
pered. it is thought by some OF its friends.
by lack OF national legislation, making
the results of its Investigations effective
in saving and protecting the supply of food
fishes.
Building upon the work of his predecessors,
Commissioner Brice is actively and success
fully carrying out the pans for the sake of
which the commission was established.
One OF the most importa mt features Of the
work at this time OF the year is the collec-
ton of lobster eggs and Matching Holsters
from them. Upon very conservative esti-
mate, this Will net a profit of nearly S5O, 600
to the New England states for a single
year.
There are now actively engaged in gath
ering the eggs near Woods Holl and
Gloucester. Mass, between 200 and 225
men- They employ small fleet OF beats
The rounds are made nearly every day and
the eggs are placed in the ordinary Matching
jar, such as used for shad eggs.
COLLECTING THE EGGS.
As the Federal government has no law
protecting lobster industry the Fish Ccm-
mission takes advantage OF the Massa-
chusetts law. This makes IL an offense for
any one 10 have in his possession the roe
lobster.
But under it from twelve to fifteen men
been appointed as deputies under the direc-
ton of the commission. They are authorized
20 issue permits to such fishermen as they
deem trustworthy TO ht Id roe Holsters for
them. e.
The deputies in their boats make the
! rounds of the places Of these fishermen as
oftcn as necessary. They receive the lob
sters with thousands OF eggs tucked away
under their broad tails; scrape out the eggs
and turn the lobster loose They pay the
fishermen 10 cents for each roe-Iobster.
The eggs are carried to Woods Holl OF
Gloucester, where in a short time they
hatch. The young HOLSTERS are then turned
I .oosc in the swift current leading from the
/ Matching TO tie sea and are soon at home
in their native element
No effort whatever is made to feed the
young lobster II is not considered DOS
>ible to devise means by which the young
could be fed. If there were any method
for this and the young could be kept the
profits of taking the eggs would be very
large.
THEIR FOOD.
The young HOLSTERS, like shad, live on
the minute vegetable and animal life In
or near the surface OF the water. The
only fish which have been fed with much
success are known as carnivorous. such as
bass and trout. They have teeth. with
which they tear their food, usually smaller
fishes
The young lobster turned loose in the
ocean has hard time to reach maturity.
II Is a prey to all sorts of fishes and
subject TO destruction in various other.
ways. lf, however, . per cent of the
eggs taken should develop Holsters that
Feach maturity at the end of the fourth
or nfth year there is a great saving
effected
The number of eggs taken last wear wos
9l,oOO,oOO, and the year before nearly the
same. This year preparations have been
made to double the number Already 6b
100000 have been collected. and il is ey.
pected that this will be increased to at
least 2OO,000,000 before the season closes
In experiments with shad and striped bass
1t has been found that a large nercent,ga
OF those Matched reached maturity. This
Is shown by the fact that all the bass in the
fotoniac came from thirty-five originalIv
brought from the Otio Valley wears ago
But II even the low estimate of ope-half or
one per cent OF the Holsters reach maturity
with an average weight of two pounds each
tnere would he l,OOO,O0o Holsters, worth
$4,000 at 5 cents pound, oDe-halr the
Wholesale selling price
This Is all saved. less the inconsiderable
Oft fl,na
otherwise he lost
The collection and Matching of the eggs
IS under the supervision of Mr.. W. de C.
havenel, an expert Of the commission, with
his office here.