The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-06-09

viding suitable food for the fries. Lob
Ster liver and soft clans are popular
as food among the young Holsters. but
the cost OF providing this expensive
food prevents 1T use in sufficient guam
tity. In the absense Of other food the
young Holsters, with their Unsuitable
%appetites. test their strength with each
other and the weaker brother perishea
that the stronger may live until he in
turn is overcome and eaten by one
even more powerful, or else falls a VIC
tim to the many enemies who lie in
wait for them.
The officials In charge of the hatcher
ies lave recently made an important
discovery relative to the artificial
propagation of Holsters, which is tina
the constant agitation of the water in
which the young are being reared re-
duces the mortality rate. AS stated. in
former years the commission has al
lowed the young fries to return to their
natural habit. or else shipped them and
planted them a short distance from the
hatcheries. Recently. however. an at
tempt has been made, and with con-
siderable success, to rear the fries un-
til they become lobsterlings and able
to take care of themselves.
The rearing apparatus which has
been installed in connection with one
OF the stations consists of a series of
cylindrical frame. In each bag, near
liz OotlOtil, ID pldCeu d TWO UlIUeu IAN
or propeller. similar in style to those
frequently seen in restaurants and
used for circulating air. These fans
are connected with a horizontal shaft
on the deck house which carries the
rearing plant.
The lobster fries are placed in the
bags and the rotation of the fans keeps
them in motion and prevents their de-
Vourtng each other. BY means of this
apparatus o 20 per cent. Of the
fries Matched were reared to be planted
as lobsterlings, n it is hoped tina
with further improvements in methods
and apparatus much can be accom-
plished fo- a declining industry.
The commission last year also be-
gan the ~impOunding in a suitable place
near the stations female Holsters which
had recently produced eggs. and this
same practice will be followed this
year. The Eggs will not be stripped
from these Holsters as has been the
practice, but an effort will be made to
assist the mother lobster in the hatch
ing Of her eggs. The commission has
just sent it's schooner northward along
the coast for the purpose of collecting
egg bearing Holsters, which are con-
sidered suitable for ~impounding.
The results Of the experiments con-
Quoted at the latcheries lead officials
to the belief that 1t is not only feasible
to retain the lobsterlings in Enclosures
until they reach a marketable size. but
that such an undertaking might be
made a profitable industry. Holsters
reach a marketable size-from eight to
eleven inches long--when about four
or five years old, but the great question
over which the authorities and fisher
men are concerned is how to keep
the young alive until they are capable
of taking care of themselves. Thus
far, it seems, the only way to prevent
the destruction of the fishery is by ar
officially rearing the young after their
Matching until they are sufficiently de-
veloped to turn back into their natural
waters.
This practice. if followed, however.
would likely cause a rise in the price
of the lobster, which even now is con-
sidered as IL luxury. Many there are.
however, who will wish the propa-
gators success. V e though success
should mean his!:c. prices for the de-
lectable crustacean.