CHAPTER XII 



INSHORE FISHERIES SHELLFISH 

 THE LOBSTER. 



The lobster is found on the Atlantic coast from Dela- 

 ware to Labrador. It occurs most abundantly on the 

 coast of Maine and Nova Scotia. It is found in depths 

 of 100 fathoms, and while more abundant on the shores 

 it has been found in considerable quantities on the off- 

 shore banks. In April or May the lobster on the Maine 

 coast comes into comparatively shallow waters, where it 

 remains until late in the fall, going back to the ocean or 

 deeper waters of the bays in October or November. Its 

 favorite resort is on rocky bottoms, very few being cap- 

 tured on sandy or muddy ground. 



The enemies of the lobster are so numerous that one 

 writer has said that "every predaceous fish which feeds 

 upon the bottom may be looked upon in general as an 

 enemy of the lobster. ' ' * The most destructive enemies 

 are the cod, the sea eel and the dog-fish. The greatest 

 enemy of the adult lobster is man. For several years 

 past, the decline in the lobster fishery of New England 

 has aroused the attention of all who are interested in 

 preserving this valuable food-fish. Where inquiries are 

 made into the cause of the decline of the industry it is 

 found that, in addition to its enemies, the method of 

 propagation of the lobster is a natural hindrance to its 

 rapid increase. 



i Francis H. Herrick, The American Lobster, Bulletin, United 

 States Fish Commission for 1895, pp. 1 to 252. 



230 



