108 General Notes. 



Remarks on an unusually large Marine Lobster caught off 

 Newport, Rhode Island. 



I am indebted to Mr, Charles E. Ash, of Newport, for the opportunity 

 of examining a lobster of unusually large size, taken off the island of 

 Rhode Island, June 16, 1900, by a fisherman who was trawling for cod, 

 using a line to which many hooks were attached. Lobster-pots are too 

 small for the capture of very large lobsters. This one weighed 27 

 pounds, and ranks with the largest examples of its species. The crush 

 ing claw is on the left side. This lobster is normal and perfect in all 

 its parts. 



In the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 

 N. Y., (Vol XII, pages 191-194, plate IX, published December 30, 

 1899), Professor R. P. Whitfield published a description and measure 

 ments of two phenomenally large lobsters, captured off Atlantic High.- 

 lands, New Jersey, during the spring of 1897. For convenience of com 

 parison, I have followed the measurements of these two specimens, as 

 taken by Doctor E. O. Hovey of the American Museum, presenting 

 those of the present specimen in the third column (No. 3), Nos. 1 and 2 

 being those from New Jersey. 



MEASUREMENTS OP THREE LARGE LOBSTERS. 



No. 1. No. 2. No.3, 

 mm. mm. mm. 

 Length of carapace, including rostrum, along median 



line, .- 257 280 270 



Circumference of carapace behind second pair of legs, 208 486 493 



Length of abdomen to point of telson 300 311 310 



Breadth of tail, 230 223 270 



Large chelate limbs: right side, length of first two joints... 160 165 186 



" "third joint 120 122 116 



". " fourth joint 360 365 370 



" " thumb 145 201 198 



circumference of third 



joint 236 248 215 



" circumference of fourth 



joint 442 348 310 



" length of whole limb... .. 570 610 525 



left side, length of first two joints 171 183 186 



" " third joint 118 124 109 



" fourth joint 360 375 360 



" thumb 198 155 162 



" whole limb 580 615 523 



" circumference of third 



joint 237 263 255 



circumference of fourth 



joint 339 491 425 



Entire length as mounted ... 9201005 960 



