ABOUT LOBSTERS 



59 



4. An article by D. G. Wilder and D. W. McLeese 

 of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada shows that 

 plugged lobsters are more susceptible to the agent 

 causing blood disease. 



The first of these reasons is the most powerful. The 

 promoters of bands have addressed themselves to big city 

 buyers who in turn have specified that their purchases be 

 banded. Recently a seacoast buyer was offered an order by 

 a chain store for 80,000 pounds of lobsters ( which he had ) 

 but his fishermen were not educated to using bands, and the 

 store wouldn't accept his plugged lobsters. 



There are two objections to banding. One is that bands 

 cost much more than plugs; an even more important ob- 

 stacle is the resistance of lobstermen to any new operation. 

 Excellent tongs are available but they are expensive, 

 and usually the buyer has to provide them free to his fisher- 

 men. If a buyer has from twenty to sixty lobstermen fish- 

 ing for him, the investment in tongs can be considerable. 



'' 



Fig. 13. Banding with tabbed bands 



