80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



and was caught at Ciittyhunk, twelve miles distant, on July 13. It 

 had travelled twelve miles in eleven daj-s. Whether these speci- 

 mens were seeking better food, warmer water, deeper water, whether 

 they were following a general direction, or were impelled b}' a home 

 instinct, cannot at present be said with certainty. 



Similar experiments were tried at Wickford by your commission 

 in 1902 and 1903, and the results are given in the accompamdng 

 tables. These experiments showed a similar variation in the move- 

 ments of the lobsters, and the record for fast travelling is at present 

 held by our specimen No. 103 (see table), which travelled ten miles 

 in eight days. Another suggestive fact is brought out by these ex- 

 periments, and was emphasized by Dr. Bumpus, namely, that a com- 

 paratively large per cent, of the specimens were caught and the tags 

 returned within a very short period. This shows that a thorough 

 gleaning is continually being made of the lobster crop. The sug- 

 gestion is further emphasized by the fact that some of the lobsters 

 were known to have been caught and the tags held back by the fish- 

 ermen, and doubtless there were other similar cases which were not 

 heard of. Furthermore, lobsters which have recently got rid of their 

 eggs are known to be especially liable to shed, and with shedding 

 the tag is lost. 



Important observations on the migrations and growth of lobsters 

 might be made, if we could devise a method of marking them with 

 a distinctive and conspicuous label that would not be lost when the 

 shell is shed. 



