Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
TO SAVE THE LOBSTER
FROM DETERMINATION

What keen feelings of regret would stir
the emotions OF those washingtonians who
have the price IL they knew, as they
carefully picked over their greatly priced
bIoiled lobster that the delicious and pal
atable object before them would likely be
the last of its kind they should ever enjoyF
They would probably linger long and re-
fectively over the disposition of that last
lobster, their minds filled with pleasant
memories OF the gastronomtc delights the
succulent red crustacean had afforded them
IN the past, and when the last white, juicy
morsel had been picked out of the shell
and delivered over to the qualification Of
the appetite they would undoubtedly heave
sigh of sincere regret at the passing OF
one OF the greatest joys of the epicure
This speculation is not based upon mere
fancy or vague conjecture, but upon pos
sible contingency, to prevent the occur
renee of which the United States fish com
mission Is devoting a great deal of time,
study and money.
The lobster Is the most important cruS-
tacean of the United States. and is the OBJ
ject of a special fishery in which more than
$500 persons are engaged with an invested
capital of about $10o0,000. Approximately
100000 pounds of Holsters are caught and
sold annually, bringing to the fishermen a
sum of about million and half dollars.
For number of years this fishery has
presented the anomaly of a diminishing
supply and an augmented catch, owing 10
the more active prosecution of the bust
ness, but the decline in the yield has for
some time been unchecked, notwithstand-
ing the employment of more apparatus and
the prolongation of the fishing season.
Many of the fishermen, with a singular dis
regard for their own welfare, have con-
tinually violated the laws for the protec-
ton Of small, immature Holsters and fe-
males bearing eggs, and the supply has
consequently been rapidly diminishing. In
the opinion of the officials of the fish
commission only the rigid enforcement OF
restrictive measures and the extensive ar
off the destruction which threatens. TINS
valuable fishery and prevent the practlcal
extinction of the species
X x *
Probably among no other species of AMI
NAL life IS the death rate of the young so
high as among young Holsters. 1t Is re-
markable fact, stated by scientific author
ity, that not more than one in every thou
sand Holsters Matched in their natural hab-
itat ever reaches maturity.
For the artificial propagation of the lob
ster the fish commission now maintains
three hatcheries-one each at Woods Hole
and Gloucester, Mass, and the other, re-
Gently established at Boothbay, Me. At
these hatcheries the officials Of the govern
ment are endeavorng to solve the problem
Of how to increase the supply of Holsters
and prevent the determination OF this val
liable crustacean.
The lobster is found along the Atlantic
coast from Labrador to Delaware, but is
most numerous along the coast of the New
England states. The principal spawning
season for Holsters Is during the summer
months. The egg-producing Holsters, how
ever do not lay oftener than every second
year. The period of incuba ton for the eggs
is prolonged, lasting from ten to eleven
months during which time the eggs are
carried under the posterior portion of the
body and attached to the swimmerets Each
mature female lobster produces thousands
OF eggs. the number varying according 10
the length. For instance, a lobster eight
inches long will produce about 5000 eggs,
while one fourteen inches in length will
produce 10000. All the eggs do not match
at the same time, and after escaping nom
the shell the young receive no further at
tention from the mother, but lead an in
dependent existence.
After the Matching the young lobster
passes through a long series of larval
stages undergoing a metamorphosis, and
In the course of three four weeks be-
comes a full-fedged lobsterling. These
early stages are the critical periods in the
life of the young lobster, and the mortal
ty at this time is great, only one out OF
every l 000 surviving, as stated.
The young lobster is a wicked little can
nibal Even before he has passed through
the larval stages the cannibalstic tenden-
cjes are strongly developed in him. He
possesses a ravenous appetite and devours
all weaker brethren within reach. II Is a
case of the survival of the strongest with
the lobster AS soon as he possesses pinch
ing claws. a hard shell and other anatomi-
cal characteristics of the adult there is
remarkable change in the lobsterling's dis