COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES, 61 



4. To prevent the use of lobsters as bait. 



5. To modify the regulation for the buoying of lobster pots in order 

 to accomplish the aim of the law without being detrimental to honest 

 fishermen. 



6. To change the enuring of the fines from the present system (one- 

 half to the complainant, and one-half to the State), to an enuring of 

 the entire fine to the State. 



The reasons for proposing these laws will be given in the following 

 paragraphs : 



PROTECTING THE EGG LOBSTER. 



The reasons for the protection of the egg lobster are too well 

 known and obvious to need special discussion. The number of eggs 

 which each mature female lobster carries is very large (from 5,000 

 to upwards of 160,000), but the rate of survival is very low. The 

 proportion of the fry hatched which reach maturity has been variously 

 estimated by leading authorities and ranges from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 

 38,000. It is probable that these extremes represent respectively 

 the rate of survival from the minimum and the maximum of ordinary 

 adverse conditions. In New England the rate is very likely inter- 

 mediate between these two extremes, leaning toward the lower rate — 

 let us say 1 in 25,000. But whatever the rate of survival may be, the 

 future supply of lobsters (as of all animals) depends directly upon the 

 number of eggs that hatch and it becomes obviously necessary to 

 protect the egg lobster. 



The need for this protection is very generally realized, but in regard 

 to the methods that should be adopted for such protection there are, 

 unfortunately, differing opinions. Two general methods have been 

 adopted. It can be made illegal to have such lobsters in one's 

 possession, or the State may purchase them from the lobstermen. 



There are two strong reasons why the first method when used 

 alone is productive of little good. In the first place it is easy to brush 

 or scrub off the eggs and evade the law. Then again, it is a fact 

 admitted by all who have thoroughly studied the subject, that while 



