ABOUT LOBSTERS 31 



parts. Never throw this refuse where it may find its way 

 back into the pound. Never throw it into the ocean, for the 

 organism can be brought back into the pound by the tide 

 or can serve to infect lobsters yet uncaught. 



When mortality is on the increase, the remaining 

 healthy lobsters should be removed and either stored in 

 fresh, clean cars, well away from the pound and in well 

 circulating water, or disposed of on the market. Once the 

 pound is empty, the gates should be left open so that it can 

 be flushed by the natural rise and fall of the tide. This 

 operation should continue for at least a week before any at- 

 tempt be made to restock. Storage tanks, cars, crates, and 

 bait barrels can be cleaned and disinfected with a hypo- 

 chlorite solution. They must then be well flushed, as chlorine 

 is poisonous to lobsters. 



Shell disease. Shell disease in lobsters is caused by a 

 bacterium that attacks the horny part of the shell. The dis- 

 ease appears to attack all parts of the exterior shell, but ap- 

 parently does not attack the antennae, the mouth parts, the 

 eyes, or the thin membrane between the various body seg- 

 ments. 11 



In advanced stages, the disease is easily recognized by 

 the characteristic eroded appearance of the shell. Large 

 areas of the shell of the tail and carapace may be completely 

 eaten away, exposing the soft inner layer (see Figure 3). 

 The outer edges of the injured parts are characteristically 

 white in appearance and it is in this white area that the 

 bacteria are active. 



It is probable that in the early stages of the disease the 

 bacteria lodge in the minute pores of the shell. During the 

 incubation period of the disease, an infected lobster cannot 

 be distinguished from a healthy one. The first evidences of 

 infection are tiny, pinpoint damaged spots ( lesions ) . These 

 injuries are especially difficult to recognize on the walking 

 legs, where they frequently first appear. 



See Clyde C. Taylor, " A Study of Lobster Shell Disease with Observations 

 arid Recommendations," Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries 

 Bulletin. 



