16 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



relation to water temperatures in the earlier spring months. 

 He also shows the price fluctuations during this period. 



These figures show that the catch in July-August is 

 greater when the sea water is wanner during the preceding 

 April to May, but the landings fall off in the succeeding 

 January to June. Notice how uniform the total catch is for 

 each January to July except when warm spring water causes 

 a greater catch in July to August. These figures permit a 

 reasonable estimate of what the catch will be in midsummer 

 if the spring water temperatures are known. 



Increase in Fishing Effort 



The number of traps in operation is a good indication 

 of how hard lobsters are fished, and the records of their 

 number are more consistent, and include a longer period of 

 years, than any other factor likely to influence the magni- 

 tude of landings. 



Thus the following figures are important. 5 



5 Taken from Robert L. Dow, " The Role of Traps in the Maine Lobster 

 Fishery." 



