Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-20
LOBSTER CULTURE.


FROM.
Lobster lovers will be glad to learn
that as the result of long continued ex-
periments, the Y. S. fish commission has
at last succeeded in being able to prop
igate Holsters successfully and that it
was Mddlebury college boy, DR.. A. d.
Mead, son of Prof. Mead, who discov-
cred the method. The Scientific Ameri.
can of May II says:
In this connection it may be said that an
important discovery bearing on the lobster in
dustry has just been announced by Prof. II.
c. Bumpus of the American museum, who
states that the problem of artificial lobster cul-
ture has been conclusively demonstrated This
new and far-reaching discovery places the
United States ahead of all the nations of the
world in this particular branch of biological
investigation, as for years the artificial propa-
cation of this crustacean has bafed the lead
ing scientists abroad. The supply of Holsters
has been slowly diminishing during the past
five years. 1t was apparent to the United
States fish commission that unless some ac-
tive means were taken to increase the pro-
duction the lobster would, in a few years, be-
come practically extinct. Prof, Bumpus, who
has been conducting investigations in this line
at the Woods lloll laboratory in the past,
was appointed to take charge of the work
The practical experiments which have
yielded series of surprising and brilliant re-
suits, were carried on at the Wexford, X. l.,
station of inland fisheries on board the new
floating laboratory or houseboat, which was
especially adapted for practical work. After
numerous experiments had been made it was
found that the secret of success is rearing the
young Holsters from the eggs was to keep the
water in continuous motion, thereby prevent
ing the fry from settling into pockets to smother
or devour one another as at certain times
they have a tendency to leave the surface and
sink to the lower depths, thus resulting in
great mortality. Dr. A. d. Mead of Brown
university, and the director Of the Wexford
station, son of Prof c. ID. Mead of this place,
originated the continuous motion idea and
carried on the practical details of the work.
\ simple and ingenious stirring and feeding
apparatus was constructed, consisting of sew
eral cylindrical scrim bags, three feet in di-
ametcr and four feet deep. Mr.. George II.
Sherwood devised and installed this contriv-
ance. In the central space or pool of the
houseboat were submerged dozen or more
OF these scrm bags, containing several thou
sands of the young fry. In each bag was
placed a dasher, turned by gasoline engine,
the rotating blades of which would constantly
keep the water so agitated that the fry would
not and could not settle to the bottom. The
blades also kept the food in circulation, SO
that the fry could obtain it. The apparatus
suiiced not only for keeping the fry and ar
tihcial food from the bottom, but it also pro-
vided the fry with living natural food. They
were fed with the soft parts of clans, cut into
fine pieces in a chopping-tray. This diet
seemed best suited to the young Holsters di
gestion. The experiments proved that lobs
lers can be articially reared from the eggs
until in nine to sixteen days they pass the
critical stage, after which they become similar
to the adults in structure and habits, being
able to take care Of themselves when liber
ated. DR.. Meade reports that by actual count
in no case was the number of Holsters that
reached this stage less than 10 per cent of the
number of fry originally placed in the bags.
In many cases it was above 10 per cent, and
IN one instance it was as high as 81 per cent.
Encouraged by these results the United States
commission of fish and fisheries is now plan
ming to equip several stations along the New
England coast with the new Matching and
brooding apparatus for the purpose of raising
millions of try The liberation Of large num-
bers of these hardy youngsters will result in
the restocking of our depleted waters, thereby
saving the lobster industry from extinction.