10 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



the canned foods market years ago. Live storage 

 pounds have made possible the development and main- 

 tenance of more stable marketing conditions. 



Sources of Lobsters 3 



There are two sources of lobsters consumed in the 

 United States: domestic and Canadian. Practically all the 

 U. S. lobsters are consumed in this country. Exports to 

 Europe and Canada are negligible. Canadian lobsters are 

 imported in response to the strong U. S. demand. About 65 

 to 80 per cent of the Canadian catch is exported to the U. S. 

 This Canadian supply is an important factor in our lobster 

 industry. Over 22 million pounds of live lobsters and frozen 

 lobster meat and 2 million pounds of canned meat were im- 

 ported in 1957. Maine catches were 24 million pounds. 

 Actually, Canada's contribution to the U. S. consumer of 

 lobsters is greater than these statistics indicate. First, the 

 U. S. catch represents the lobsters caught, not the lobsters 

 sold to large dealers, because mortalities occur during 

 handling and holding operations. The Canadian imports 

 represent lobsters which have survived these initial mortali- 

 ties. Second, some of the Canadian imports are frozen 

 lobster meat which requires about four pounds of live lob- 

 ster for one pound of meat. 



Both U. S. and Canadian lobster production have in- 

 creased during recent years. For example, in 1938-1947, the 

 average U. S. catch was 12 million pounds, and in 1948-1957, 

 21 million pounds. The corresponding Canadian catches 

 were 34 and 47 million pounds. 



In general, the lobster industry is in a fairly good eco- 

 nomic condition compared to the years prior to World War 

 II. It is not a source of great profit on either primary or 

 secondary level, but it does provide a living for many peo- 

 ple. As long as the industry shows no driving ambition to 

 increase profits by modern methods of fishing, handling, and 



Information herein is taken from Leslie Scattergood and Robert L. Dow, 

 "The Lobster Industry" (18th Report), presented at the 26th Meeting, 

 North Atlantic Section, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 

 (September, 1930). 



