Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16

position and habits. He becomes combata-
tive and pugnacious II disturbed, but Will
retreat from danger Nevertheless he seems
to retain an innate hatred for all OF his
own kind who are weaker. 1t Is because
OF the canniballsm of the lobster and be-
cause of It's numerous natural enemies In
the waters that such very small per-
centage of those Matched reach maturity.
The United States fish commission a num-
Der OF years ago began the artificial prop
agation of Holsters in order to devise
means of maintaining the supply, and at its
two marine stations in Massachusetts many
hundred millions have been Matched and
planted. Bntil recently the eggs were pro-
cured from fishermen and agents of the
commission and placed in tanks through
which sea water was kept running. The
fishermen each year would for the
commission all egg-bearing Holsters caught
during a period of several months proceed
ing the Matching season These eggs would
be stripped from the brood Holsters and
placed in the Matching jars and as soon as
the young were Matched they were turned
Dack into the ocean, excepting such as Were
kept for further experimentation.
Last year the commission collected about
12uOo0OoO lobster eggs, and of this numDer
about 30 per cent, or over 1OO,OoO,oOO, were
Matched. But even with the most careful
attention much less than 30 per cent of
those Matched lived to become lobsterlings.
Many were victims to cannibalism and suf-
location, While others were killed by 4
vegetable growth that makes its appear
ance in the water.
Considerable difficulty has been expert
enced by the commission in providing suit
able food for the fries. Lobster liver and
soft claims are popular as food among
the young Holsters, but the cost of proVid-
ing this expensive food prevents its use in
Sufnclent quantity. In the absence OF other
food, the young Holsters, with their inSat-
able appetites test their strength with each
other and the weaker brother parishes that
the stronger may live until he in turl is
overcome and eaten by one even more
powerful, or else falls a victim to the
many enemies who lie in wait for him.
The officials in charge of the hatcheries
have recently made an important discovery
relative to the artificial propagation of lob
sters, which is that the constant agitation
Of the water in which the young are being
reared reduces the mortality rate. AS
stated in former years the commission has
allowed the young fries to return TO their
natural habitat, or else shipped them and
planted them a short distance from the
h2tchcrieS. Recently, however, an attempt
has been made, and with considerable sue
cess, to rear the fries until they become
lobsterlings and able to take care of them
selves.
The rearing apparatus which has been
installed in connection with one of the sta
tons consists of a series of cylindrical
scrim bags supported in a wooaeh frame
In each bag, near the bottom, is placed
two-bladed fan or propeller, similar in style
to those frequently seen in restaurants ard
used for circulating air. These fans are
connected with a horizontal shaft on the
deck of the house boat which carries the
rearing plant.
The lobster fries are placed in the bags
and the rotation of the fans keeps than in
motion and prevents their devOuring each
other. By means of this apparatus about
20 per cent of the fries Matched were rear
ed to be planted as lobsterlings, and 1t is
hoped that with further improvements in
methods and apparatus much can be 2c-
complished for a declining industry.
The commission last year also began the
| impoundng in a suitable place near the
stations female Holsters which had recent
| ly produced eggs, and this same practice
will be followed this year. The eggs VIII
not be stripped from these Holsters as has
| been the practice, but an effort VIII be
made to assist the mother lobster in the
| Matching 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 considered suit
able for impounding.
The results of the experiments conducted
| at the hatcheries lead officials to the belief
| that it is not only feasible to retain the
| lobsterlngs in Enclosures until they reach
| a marketable size. but that such an I'M
| dertaking might be made profitable In
| dustry. 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
fishermen are concerned is how to keep the
young alive until they are capable of TAX
| ing care of themselves. Thus far, it seems
| the only way to prevent the destruction Of
| the fishery is by artifcally rearing the
| young after their Matching until they are
sufficiently developed to turn back into
their natural waters
| This practice, if followed however would
likely cause rise in the price of the lob
ster, which even now is considered as a
luxury. Many there are, however, who will
wish the propagators success, even though
success should mean higher prices for the
delectable crustacean.