ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE LOBSTER. 2G9 



ing holes in the sides of the boxes large euough to let the larger of the 

 young ones which stay deeper under the water slip out easily ; 



c. That the female lobsters which have roe under the back part of 

 their body in June will have done hatching in September ; 



d. That the hatching from beginning, to end occupies a period of 

 about three weeks ; 



e. That the summer-hatching does not begin at the same time every 

 year, (in 1873 it began on the 4th July, and in 1874 between the 17th 

 and 2Gth of the same month,*) which undoubtedly depends on the higher 

 aud lower temperature of the water; 



/. That the newly-hatched young of the lobster keep closely together 

 near the surface of the water, and because but little skilled in swim- 

 ming become an easy prey to their enemies; and, 



g. That the young lobsters begin to go toward the bottom when about 

 three to four weeks old, and that there they soon assume their retro- 

 grade motion. 



It was also shown that when the young lobsters have so far developed 

 as to seek the bottom, they can escape their enemies with comparative 

 ease, partly on account of their quicker motions and partly by hiding 

 between the stones. 



These experiments have, therefore, not only thrown considerable light 

 on the natural history of the lobster, but they have also given practical 

 hints how it may be possible to further the lobster-fisheries by adopting 

 regulations for their protection, aud by establishing in suitable localities 

 hatching-places where the young can be protected during the first stages 

 of their development. To keep the young lobsters in inclosed sheets of 

 water till they are large euough to become salable will scarcely pay. 



One of our largest exporters of lobsters on the western coast has 

 tried to keep large quantities of grown lobsters in an inclosed sheet of 

 Avater, feeding them and waiting for the time when it would be most 

 profitable to ship them ; but it soon became evident that the expenses 

 were too great. 



These experiments will be continued during the present year with the 

 aid of the Royal Society for Furthering the Industries of Norway. 



B. 



