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

lobster. In New York. New Jersey ana
Delaware the Industry is, and has always
been, comparatively utimportant, EN-
ploying in 1900 only 1os fishermen whose whose
catch altogether wns only 2O,eo pounds
\ Valued at so7960; but tho condition is
88 very different along the New England
shore. The fishery Is prosecuted III all
skofi THE New England States except YER
Z Ir1ont. and has been an Important source
gSl ofEincone to the longshore population.
tbut for many years the catch has been
\ lditninshing, and the condition became so
\ serious that in 1898 the United States
II ! Commission OF Fish and Fisheries under"
sitook special inquiries into the status ana
K ,needs OF the industry. The necessity LOT
"A such an inquiry IL readily seen by com
4 ,narinr the statistics Of few recent
4 wears. In 1889 the catch was 3O,449,6oa
sno,,nds, which fell to 23,4o9,927 pounds
x Ein 1892 and to 14.02s,S45 pounds IN l902-
n Madeleine of more than 80 per cent. IN
81 Thirteen years. Because OF the lessenea
(ruppy the price has advanced, 50 tha'
5S 1.-The money value Of the catch IN WV was
y kS1,271 a62 rs compared with SsSa''ao !, y,
E1ssa: but this. in turn, points to a smaller
Il number OF consumers. as the msn p ivy
4 la 3nroh tive TO many would-be buyers.
s' The high price Is really menace 70
b,s 40 Yndustry rs It conceals the 1rue
O scnnd,tion and makes the fisherman m
direrent to the fate OF the fisnerS. ~
III long as their receipts are not lesseneu'
& ~ are even increase d. 1t Is hard TO con
7 since those most interested that the
IA animal on which IT. is based Is on me
8eve OF extinction.
There are three ma In causes Tor inc
" decline Of the lobster nshery the lnife-
N J. uuency Of tho breeding periods, the SION
sJifrate OF development and growth and,
Il ihnnlly.1 reckless and Illegal fishing. The
n enactment of proper laws and their
a rigorous enforcement after enactment
II ,rould help to remedy the last cause,
$3t esspecially If steps were taken to instruct
HI the fishermen and enlist their sympathy
I'm having them carried out; but the
81 other causes depend on physiological
x sYacts and biological laws. and their ef-
forts are more difficult to overcome.
i4s 5i Ordinarily the lobster does not breed
u more frequently than once In two or
Sl three years, and the interval IS OFTEN
VA longer The fA1,ale carries the eggs W
III lunches attaches to the small legs,
Il Icalled "swimmerets. for ten or eleven
q months after extr,lsion, and. II the sea-
ron be unfavorable. as much as mr.
;1een months may elapse before the eggs
q. are Matched
During this time the Holsters are said
10 be '1DeTrlcu anu oCl LEN 'o'''NS'
ss%%s are esteemed particularly delicate, great
Il numbers Of them are captured IN this
Il condition FOR market-of course destroy
ing the coming brood, The extreme
wastefulncss of this practice is evident
and the protection OF the berrled TOD
ssi sters is an obvious step IN preserV'hs
4 the race. The eggs do not all hatch A.
the same time, nut in the Woods Hole
region the Matching season extends iron,
about the middle Of May to the first OF
July: on the Maine coast 1t IS week
brS SO later During this time the mother
all IS constantly swimming about, and. as
the Young drop off as soon as Matched,
sittis probable that the fry nrc widely
VI distributed
lThe young lobster comes from the
egg with little or no resemblance to
the adult in either form or habits. 1t
swlms about aimlessly or floats helpless-
w on the surface and is waited by
II winds and currents to considerable dis
II tances It grasps ut particles or food,
q INT has either no sense of danger or
no ability to protect Itself. and as Us
bright colnrs and ncAive motions make
8 1t conspicuous, It Is prey for many
5 OF the hungry inhabitants of the wa
@tters II soon begins to undergo series
II OF metamorphoses. and In three or four
y weeks 1t has become really young
5d lobster, with pnching claws, hard
shell, and other characters Of the adult.
81 IA corresponding change takes place N
lifts disposition and haL bits. IT becomes
livery pugnacious and is always ready TO
| fight II disturbed In. the least. 1t de-
iyelops a sense OF danger and hides among
the rocks. under seaweeds or even bur
III rows into the sand when approached,
and as It's colors harmonic with the
4 / surroundings. it Is almost invisible. It's
s / movements are quick and active and in
many ways 1t is capable Of taking care
S4 OF itself.