REPRODUCTION OF THE LOBSTER. 



795 



appears that tbe first year the Lobster sheds his shell six times, the second year six times, the 

 third year four times, and the fourth year three times. 

 * "The following table shows the rate of growth in a Lobster after each shedding of its shell: 



REPRODUCTION GENERAL REMARKS. Comparatively little has yet been made known 

 regarding the reproduction of the American Lobster and the habits of the female during the 

 spawning season. This is very unfortunate, considering the important bearing of all such 

 information upon the question of the artificial breeding of Lobsters, which, if it is feasible, may 

 ere long have to be undertaken in order to replenish our already diminished supplies. Many 

 obstacles have been mentioned as standing in the way of such an enterprise, but from the 

 favorable beginnings already made in Europe, as well as in this country, we are inclined to 

 believe it will terminate successfully. 



Most of our larger crustaceans, including the Lobster and common Crabs, although living 

 mainly upon the bottom when adult, have free-swimming young, which, as soon as they leave the 

 egg, and for a more or less prolonged period, lead a very erratic life. Not only, however, do the 

 habits of the young generally differ very widely from those of the adults, but the appearance and 

 structure of the two are as widely unlike. As described under "shedding," the Lobster grows 

 by a series of molts. A molting or shedding of the skin indicates that the animal has grown 

 too large for its inelastic outer coat. Now, the very young, or the larvae, as they are sometimes 

 called, grow in the same manner as the adults. When the higher crustaceans first leave the eggs 

 they are very unlike the parent, having a very much simpler structure and often resembling one 

 of the lower groups of crustaceans. The larva of the Lobster, for instance, is somewhat similar 

 in structure and appearance to one of the simplest groups of Shrimps, tbe so-called Schizopods. 



The free-swimming habits of the young furnish some of the most serious obstacles to the 

 breeding of Lobsters. The embryos, after hatching, rise to the surface of the water, where they 

 spend much of their time, and are borne hither and thither at the mercy of the currents, being 

 often carried beyond the favorable influences necessary to their development. In many Lobster 

 regions along our coast, in calm and clear weather, large quantities of the young may be dipped 

 from the surface of the water, in the eddies and smooth streaks formed by the meeting of tidal 

 currents. In these quiet spots the varied minute animal life characterizing the upper strata of 

 the sea are collected together in the same manner as bits of wood and clusters of seaweed, which, 

 from their larger size, are more familiar to the dwellers upon our coast. In stormy weather this 

 surface life descends, in greater part, to lower levels. This vagrant life of the young Lobsters 

 exposes them to the attacks of all kinds of predaceous surface-feeding animals, which consume 

 them in immense numbers. In this manner a great mortality occurs a much greater one, 

 undoubtedly, than would arise did the young remain upon the bottom, where they could find some 

 shelter and protection from their enemies. The means of caring for and protecting these wayward 

 young should be the first consideration of the would-be Lobster-breeder, and in this matter he will 

 probably encounter his greatest difficulties. The length of time required for the young to attain 



