132 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



vigorously with very evident direction, cautiously avoiding 

 danger; and in the latter part of this stage it commences its 

 life on the bottom, gradually giving up its swimming habits. 

 The tiny lobsters which survive the first four stages and 

 reach the bottom have a very much greater chance of sur- 

 viving, since they instinctively hide under shells or between 

 rocks. 



As might be expected, because of the hazardous condi- 

 tions in which they live, even under the best conditions in 

 nature, not many reach this fourth stage. In extreme mor- 

 tality, therefore, this represents the most critical period of 

 their existence. 



The problem of propagation is, therefore, to rear them 

 through the first four stages, protect them from natural 

 enemies, and, by feeding them heavily and by keeping them 

 separate from each other by the use of proper currents of 

 water, prevent or discourage cannibalism. 



Once they take up their life on the bottom, the queer 

 little larvae all at once begin to look and act like lobsters. 

 The large claws which have been gradually making their 

 appearance, become prominent, and the baby lobster im- 

 mediately searches for places to hide on the ocean floor. It 

 now has a chance to escape from its enemies. 



This history shows why the rearing of lobsters * * 

 through the fourth stage (Y\" to 1" long) is so impor- 

 tant. It is estimated that in nature only one-tenth of 

 one per cent of hatched eggs reach the fourth stage 

 yet in the Oaks Bluff hatchery approximately 30 per 

 cent survive. 



It was originally required by law that Massachusetts 

 hatchery fry must be released in approximately the same 

 waters where the mother lobster was caught. This was to 

 prevent depletion of any area from which seed lobsters 

 were taken, and also because through ages of evolution, the 

 mother lobster, throughout the time of carrying her eggs and 

 especially when the period of their hatching begins, fre- 

 quents those areas within her range of travel that will pro- 

 vide the greatest protection for both eggs and young. 



