REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 87 



Commission of Inland Fisheries at Wickford, R. I. In the study of 

 the problem several questions are immediately suggested, as, for 

 example, the extent of the power of regeneration throughout the 

 organism, the length of time required for the reproduction of a normal 

 appendage, and the exact process in the development of a given 

 structure. 



At the beginning of the work several definite questions were taken 

 and an effort made to get data for their solution. The lobsters used 

 in the following experiments may be conveniently described in two 

 groups. 



Group I includes about fifty lobsters, varying from six to nine 

 inches in length. They were obtained directly from the fish-traps, 

 through the kindness of the Lewis Brothers, and placed in floating 

 cars. Each lobster was tagged, weighed, measured, and the sex and 

 general conditions were noted. They were mutilated in a variety of 

 ways and daily observations and measurements made on the regener- 

 ating processes, moults, etc. 



Group II embraces about a hundred very young lobsters ranging 

 from the fourth to the ninth stages, i. e., from one-half to about two 

 inches in length. The young lobsters were taken from the hatching 

 bags after they had moulted into the fourth stage so that the exact 

 age and stage of each lobster was known. They were placed in 

 floating cars which had been divided into small compartments by 

 wire screening. Mutilations, measurements, and other observa- 

 tions were systematically recorded and material preserved for further 

 histological study. 



It was attempted to conduct the experiments under as normal con- 

 ditions as possible. The lobsters were fed on fish and clams; an 

 awning was placed over the experiment cars; the cars were also 

 constructed so as to provide for a free circulation of the water, and 

 every precaution was taken to keep the lobsters in a nearly natural 

 environment. The experiments were also made at a favorable sea- 

 son of the year, — the latter part of July, through the months of Aug- 

 ust, September, and October, and part of November. 



