El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-12
w

w Congress Hs:S has at last la: been per
w suaded TO do something for the
lobster. It has given the Fisheries
bureau $4,000. to pay for a rearing out
fit, which located at Boothbay Harbor
CMe) will be utilized as a nursery for
the infant crustaceans-
For a number OF years past the
Fisheries bureau has been Matching
Holsters by millions at Booth5ay har-
Dor: but it has had no apparatus for
rearing them. and so has been obliged
10 turn them loose in the sea when
only day or two old.
At this stage they are tiny shrimp
like creatures, which float about at or
near the surface Of the sea. the sport
OF wind and wave. Nearly all of those
liberated under such conditions are IN
doubtedly eaten by fishes or other
enemies. and. in consequence, il is by
no means certain that the Matching
operations have been Of any material
benefit.
The rearing project. however. is an
entirely different proposition BY that
means (as experiments have proved
over so percent of the baby Holsters
can be raised to the stage where they
assume the adult form and become
walking animals. thereupon seeking the
bottom and finding safety in crannies
among rocks and other hiding places
From this time on they have few en-
esnies TO fear. and their prospect OF
living 10 grow up is excellent
Rhode Island Solves Problem.
The State Fish commission Of Rhode
Island for some years past has been
rearing to the walking stage hundreds
OF thousands of lobsterlings annually
thoroughly satisfactory way Most OF
the output has been planted" in the
upper reaches Of Narragansett Bay,
where, as a result. Holsters are begin
ming TO reappear in considerable num-
bers-those waters formerly produc-
tive of a large lobster CROP having
been ''fished out" to such an extent
that the toothsome crusta cean was
practically exterminated locally
Mach has been said in print about
the progressive disappearance Of the
lobster: but the nearneSs OF the time
when (unless prompt measures are
taken for its preservation il must
finally vanish. even from the bill of
fare o. the most expensive restaurants.
is not generally realized. HOLSTERS
were never nearly so high as during
last winter. when the average price
ssked for them by the retail dealer was
IS cents a pound.
Price Moves from = to 10 Cents.
In 1889 the fishermen got two cents
e pound for Holsters In 1892 they got
four cents, in 1897. six cents. in 1898,
eight cents; in 1900, nine cents; in
1905. u cents. and in 1918. 70 cents a
pound. These figures may be accepted
as accurate. inasmuch as they are
furnished by the Fisheries bureau
They illustrate in the most striking
possible way the rapiditv with which
The animals have been diminishing in
numbers
One might suppose that the threat
ened disappearance OF the lobster
would be a matter of grave anxiety TO
the fishermen. Such. however. is far
from being the case. They have mani
Tested 4 total indifference on the sub
ject- And no w0hder, for. as the lob
sters nave grown scarcer. their re-
ceipts have increased, owing to the
higher prices obtainable- As compared
with 1859. the catch Of 1913 showed 4
decrease of 60 percent; but the income
Of the fishermen showed gain of lis
percent
Eggs Are Abundant.
For Matching purposes, the Fisheries
bureau can get all the eggs il wants.
in April and May of the present year.
at Boothbay harbor. It collected 130,-
100000, the method being to buy