The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20

Delaware the Industry Is, and has always
been. comparatively ili,important en-
ploying In 1900 only 100 fishermen. whose
catch altogether was only 2oo,6'o pounds,
valued at sc7.a60; but tho condition is
very different along the New England
shore. The fishery Is prosecuted in all
81 OF the New England States except Ver-
t1nont. and has been an important source
IA Of Eincore to the 'longshore population.
but for many years the catch has been
Il diminishing, and the condition became so
q serious that in 1925 the United States
Commission Of Fish and Fisheries UNDER
4 ftook special inquiries into the status and
needs Of the industry. The necessity for
u such an inquiry is readily seen by COM
) tparing the statistics Of a few recent
{years. In 1889 the catch was 30,449, 603
kpounds, which fell TO 23,4o9927 pounds
Il Fin 1892. and to 14.o2s.s45 pounds IN 1907
E la decline Of more than so per cent. In
8 thirteen years. Because Of the lcssencd
}rupply the price has advanced. so that
II 1.-THE money value of the catch in 1902 was
k$1,271,a62. rs compared with $sS3.736 In
I1ssa: but this. in turn. points to a smaller
81 number OF consumers, AS the high price
Il Iis prohibitive TO many would-be buyers
5 The high price Is really a menace to
81 The Industry. as 1t conceals the true
q hcondition and makes the fisherman m
different to the fate OF the fsnerS. 80
Il long az their receipts are not lessened,
a or are even increased. it Is hard to con-
q plnce those most interested that the
a animal on which 1t is based Is on the
}eve Of extinction.
There are three main causes for tho
decline OF the lobster fishery; the infre-
3 Euuency OF the breeding periods. the slow
ftY,ro$ eHg ~ Ant,o
q finally, reckless and illegal fishing. The
AZ lenactment .of proper laws land their
n rigorous enforcement after enactment,
81 would help to remedy the last cause,
q especially II steps were taken TO Instruct
1.-the fishermen and enlist their sympathy
Mn having them carried out; but the
i other causes depend on physiological
facts and biological laws. and their eff
IS lforts are more difficult to overcome.
Ordinar ily the lobster does not breed
more frequently than once in two or
three years, and the interval Is often
longer. The fx,rale carres the eggs in
4 punches attaches to the small legs
3called 'swinmerets,' for ten or eleven
e months after extrusion, and. If the sea-
ron be unfavornble. as much MS thr-
teen months may elapse before the eggs
y. IRE Matched
During this time the Holsters are said
Ito be '1berried" and as berried Holsters
y
numbers of them are captured In this
6 condition for smarket-of course Destroy
ing the coming brood, The extreme
wastefulness of this practice Is evident
md the protection Of the berried lob
sters is an obvious step In preserving
the race. The eggs do not all hatch 1T
the same time. but in the Woods Hole
region the Matching season extends from
about the middle of May to the first OF
july on the Maine coast It is n week
br3 SO later, During this time the mother
n Is constantly swimming about and. as
3 the young drop off as soon as hatchcd.
1t is probable that the fry are widely
Il distributed.
The young lobster comes from the
\ egg with little or no resemblance to
! the adult in either form or habits. II
swins about aimlessly or floats helpless
" on the surface. and is waited by
us winds and currents to considerable dis
5istances. 1t grasps at particles Of food.
hut has either no sense of danger or
no ability to protect ITSELF and as It's
Z bright colors and active motions make
88 1t conspicuous. It Is prey for many
4$ of the hungry inhabitants of the wa
tiers. II soon begins to undergo series
" of metamorphoses, and in three or four
weeks 1t has become really young
gi lobster. with plnching claws, n hard
X shell, and other characters Of the adult.
81. IA corresponding change takes place in
"a Its disposition and llsLJts. 1t becomes
livery pugnacious and is always ready TO
n fight If disturbed In. the least 1t de-
E ivelops a sense OF danger and hides among
the rocks. under seaweeds or even bur-
Ss rows into the sand when approached,
and as Its colors harmonic with the
q surroundings it is almost invisible. Its
Il movements are quick and active. and in
many ways 1t Is capable of taking care
of itself.
II is+ E,a oh OF these rlV Of
II 1nent Is closed by Noting. or throwing
Loft the skin or shell that had covered
At. Like most il not all. of the crus-.
s. tacea. this process Is continued through
E Iout life, though II becomes less frequent
I'll las age advances. While the fry are
i Very young it is severe drain on its
initial energy. and after 1t occurs. the fry
bare left exhausted and almost utterly
I helpless. The melting periods critical
Estages in the life OF the lobster; death
Il IRON natural causes is very common. and
lat those times its natural enemies md
Ill defcnoaless and unable to escape.
Y1ndeed so many and so serious are the
yperils of the Holsters infancy that II is
safe to say that not one in a thousand
IS destined TO reach maturity.
II the fry be kept in enclosed waters
the dangers from natural enemies are
ssf reduced, but new dangers arise that
are as formidable as those that are
AVOIDED. The lobster comes into the
world equipped with Il voracous and al
most Unsuitable appetite. and it Is eager
and ready TO devour all Of its weaker
brethren that may come within reach.
When exhausted by melting the fry set :
lie to the bottom of the enclosure in
great masses. Those that first begin
10 regain strength promptly prey CT the
more exhausted ones. and the mortality
IS frightful, for those that escape being
eaten have very good chance of being
out ta1 tt,r... a., u