REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 61 



Plymouth, according- to Atwood, in 188G, fnlly three-fourths of the 

 catch were males. (Herrick, pp. 73-74.) 



Habits of the Young Fry. — The young lobsters, after hatching, 

 shed their skin three times during as many weeks ; and following 

 each moult there is a marked change in the structure as well as in 

 the size of the animals. Accordingly, it is convenient to desig- 

 nate the young immediately after hatching as belonging to the 

 " first stage ;" after they have moulted once, as belonging to the 

 "second stage," and so on. The surest and quickest means of 

 distinguishing the different stages is by the appendages along the 

 underside of the abdomen (tail). In the first stage there are none ; 

 in the second stage several pairs of swimmerets are present ; in 

 the third stage appendages appear upon the end segment of the 

 tail. The fourth stage is so different from the preceding ones 

 that no difficulty is ever experienced in distinguishing it. 



During the first three stages the lobsters swim near the surface 

 in an aimless, jerky way, that reminds one of a " wiggle-tail " 

 (mosquito larva). They are entirely unfitted for a bottom life. 

 The thorax bears five pairs of forked limbs, which ultimately 

 become the walking limbs of the lobster. One branch of each 

 leg — the lower — extends forward and downward, and is used 

 solely for feeding ; the other, which is fringed with long hairs, 

 bends upward to the side of the thorax, and by vigorous down- 

 ward strokes helps to keep the larva afloat. The abdomen 

 (" tail ") of these lobsters is bent downward at right angles to the 

 body, and is the chief swimming organ, and by means of rapid, 

 irregular, downward strokes sends the animal tumbling over and 

 over. When the lobster has nearly reached the surface, it often 

 rests for a little, and sinks gradually toward the bottom. Al- 

 though insatiate and voracious, the young lobsters do not seem to 

 search for food ; and, although the sea is full of enemies, among 

 which their own fellow lobsters are conspicuous, they do not try 

 to avoid them, nor in any way show fear. 



The duration of each stage is indefinite, depending upon the 

 water temperature, the food supply, and the general health of the 



