108 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



Availability of Equipment. There are a number of firms 

 which supply the whole equipment for artificial sea-water 

 storage. One firm in Haverhill is expanding its sales into the 

 middle west. It provides: 



1. The tanks equipped with non-metallic piping 



2. The refrigerator whose cooling coils are iron ra- 

 ther than copper 



3. A filter system consisting of a wooden trough in 

 which are laid batts of fibre glass, the same as used in 

 insulating a house 



4. The various salts composing its secret formula 

 for sea water. 



A user of this installation reports that its losses of lob- 

 sters are, if anything, slightly less than with natural sea 

 water. They change the filters once a week (their water is 

 pronouncedly murky) and the water once every three 

 months. They use ordinary tap water for the mix. 



The cost of an installation of a capacity of 9,000 gallons 

 is in the neighborhood of $10,000. The charge for a new 

 mixture of salts is approximately $120 (every three months). 



