150 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



feeding habits of lobsters at the lobster-rearing station in 

 Martha's Vineyard. 



There are a number of significant problems which 

 should be studied. They are: 



1. The factors that affect abundance and produc- 

 tivity (populations dynamics) 



2. Improvements in handling, holding, and ship- 

 ping live lobsters 



3. Product diversification 



4. The economic-biological management of the re- 

 source. 



The estimated cost of these studies is $230,000. 



In addition, in its 20th Biennial Report, the Department 

 of Sea and Shore Fisheries lists three more specific prob- 

 lems: 



1. A study of the life history of the American lob- 

 ster ( Homarus americanus ) . We believe that this study 

 would be most valuable and should provide much in- 

 formation on sound conservation and marketing prac- 

 tices. 



2. An evaluation of predation (living by prey) as 

 a factor affecting the abundance of lobsters. Both pro- 

 ducers and lobster dealers should benefit from this 

 study, and the information gathered should be of great 

 use in any further work on processing and marketing. 



3. Investigation of natural and synthetic lobster 

 baits. In an off year, bait could become the number one 

 problem of the Maine lobster fishing industry. As it is, 

 it constitutes the greatest single expense to the pro- 

 ducer. For the past two years there has been an abun- 

 dance of herring which has prevented the situation 

 from becoming critical. But if the groundfish and red- 

 fish industry should decline and if there should be a 

 year when herring are scarce, lobster fishermen could 

 be faced with their most serious problem to date. For 

 these reasons, we feel that these bait studies are of the 

 greatest importance. 2 



See pages 74- 



