BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 25 



1885 was less than one rourth that for 1880, and the same was reported 

 of the remainder of the Elizabeth. Islands, No Man's Land, and Gay 

 Head. 



" Ln the waters of Ehode Island and Connecticut a large decrease of 

 lobsters is reported by many of the fishermen, and the increased catch 

 for the few years preceding 1880 was obtained only by the use of a much 

 larger number of trai>s than was employed formerly. Although the 

 fishery in those States was begun very many years ago, it is only within 

 comparatively recent times that it has been extensively carried on. 



"On the coast of Maine the evidences of decrease are very strong, 

 especially as regards the shallower areas, but the rapid extension of the 

 grounds into comparatively deep water has made the actual decrease 

 less apparent. The rocky bottoms of the coast of Maine are also sup- 

 I)osed to afford the lobsters greater j)rotection than the sandy ones to 

 the south, and in many places the traps cannot be set as closely together, 

 nor is it probable that the lobsters in such localities move about as 

 mu(;h in search of food. 



"The greatest decrease has occurred within the past 15 to 20 years, 

 or since the establishment of numerous canneries and of the perfected 

 methods of transporting fresh lobsters to all parts of the country. The 

 demand being so much greater than the supply, there are no restrictions 

 on the amount of the catch beyond those imj^osed by the State laws or 

 resulting from the scarcity of lobsters. Fish are among the greatest 

 enemies of the lobster, and cod are known to consume enormous quan- 

 tities; but nature has provided against their extinction by such means, 

 and it is man alone who has disturbed the balance." 



The above remarks were based mainly upon the fishery investigations 

 of 1880, since which evidences of continued decrease have been con- 

 stantly received. About a year ago, a prominent Boston dealer wrote 

 that he was receiving large quantities of lobsters from Nova Scotia, as 

 the Maine fishery was totally inadequate to supply the demand, the 

 amount obtained from that State having been less than in previous 

 years. 



One of the strongest evidences of decrease in abundance is afibrded 

 by the continuous decrease in the average size of the lobsters sent to 

 the markets. The exact amount of this decrease is not determinable, 

 as no records bearing upon this subject were made prior to 1880, but 

 the fact was granted by the fishermen and canners, even in those re- 

 gions where a perceptible decrease in numbers was not admitted. The 

 average weight of the lobsters marketed in most places in 1880 was 

 estimated to be about two pounds each. A New Haven correspondent 

 stated that the average length of the lobster sold in the markets in that 

 place in 1880 was about lOJ inches, and the average weight about two 

 pounds, against an average length of about 13 inches and an average 

 weight of about three and one-half pounds 20 years ago. In Boston 

 the market lobsters ranged but little above the limit in size permitted 



