GEOWTH OF THE LOBSTtiR. 791 



movements of Lobsters can be easily studied in the shallow cars in which they are kept for 

 market, providing there are not too many of them, as the bottom of the car should not be covered. 

 Their actions appear easy and graceful, and their swimming powers may be tested by dipping 

 them out with a scoop-net and allowing them to fall back again. If allowed to fall in tail foremost, 

 a gentle flap or two of the tail is sufficient to give the body the proper slope in the water so that 

 in sinking it falls obliquely and reaches bottom by a more gradual motion than would be the case 

 if it fell directly downward. During the downward movement the tail may or may not be kept in 

 motion. But in case the specimen is thrown in head first or sidewise, if it be in good, lively 

 condition, it may give several vigorous flaps of the tail to right itself, and even swim off in one 

 direction or another for a distance of several feet before settling down as in the former case. As a 

 rule, however, the Lobster must be regarded as a bottom animal, exercising its power of swimming 

 only in cases of emergency. 



We have made the above remarks to correct the current impression among many people that 

 the Lobster is a free swimmer and moves about in schools like many species of fish. For this 

 belief there is no foundation in fact. 



GROWTH, SHEDDING, ETC. Soft-shelled Lobsters occur at all seasons of the year, but appear 

 to be much less common in the winter than in the summer. The period of their greatest abundance 

 is from June to September or October. There is, therefore, no strictly defined shedding period, 

 and no possibility of determining, from present data, how often Lobsters shed. The shedding is 

 connected with the growth of the individual, and when the body has attained such an increased 

 volume that the hard covering or shell can no longer contain it, the latter breaks open, and the 

 Lobster comes forth in a soft state, and considerably enlarged. The possibility, therefore, exists 

 that in good feeding regions Lobsters may shed more frequently than in poor ones, for in the 

 former it is natural to suppose that the growth would be more rapid than in the latter. Absolutely 

 nothing is kuowii, however, regarding this fact, and we must await future observations before 

 generalizing. During the younger stages, shedding goes on quite rapidly, but as the Lobster 

 increases in age it is probable that the shedding periods become much less frequent, and in very 

 old individuals may cease altogether. There is, however, no conclusive evidence to prove that 

 Lobsters ever attain a limit in size beyond which there is no further growth. Large individuals 

 are occasionally taken with a very thick and heavy shell so scarred and worn as to indicate a 

 prolonged and severe service. At times, the edges and angles of the shell and the exposed 

 prominences of the claws are completely worn away. Large Barnacles are often found npon the 

 shells of large Lobsters, and this fact is frequently cited as evidence that the Lobster had ceased 

 shedding, or at least had not shed for several seasons. But after having examined the slates 

 used by the United States Fish Commission as collectors for oyster spat, in Chesapeake Bay, in 

 1880, the writer can no longer regard this proof as very convincing. In the course of a month or 

 two the common Barnacle of that region, a species of Balanus, which had attached itself to the 

 slates in much greater abundance than the oysters, had attained a diameter of nearly an inch and 

 gave promise of growing much larger in a short space of time. 



The process of shedding is very interesting, and has been frequently witnessed, although it 

 has never been minutely described by a competent observer. The following account has been 

 furnished us by Mr. S. M. Johnson, of Boston. As a preliminary, the carapax generally, but by 

 no means always, splits lengthwise along the middle of the back, often with a clean cut, quite to 

 the rostrum. Otherwise, the carapax merely separates widely from the abdomen, on the upper 

 side. The abdominal segments are the first to be withdrawn from their hard investment, ' and 



1 This is contrary to what happens in the fresh-water Cray-fish. 



