64 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



inches in length. But the number of eggs carried by a lobster varies, 

 accordingly to its size, approximately as follows: An 8-inch lobster, 

 5,000 eggs; a 10-inch lobster, 10,000; a 12-inch lobster, 20,000; a 

 14-inch lobster, 40,000; etc. A female lobster therefore, when 

 fourteen inches long, carries approximately eight times as many eggs 

 as an 8-inch lobster although less than twice the length. It is 

 therefore eight times as valuable as an egg producer. It is evident 

 from this reason, that if any class of lobsters are to be protected, 

 these large breeders should be the ones. Furthermore, the large 

 lobster although weighing considerably more is not so desirable for the 

 consumer as a smaller and more tender meatecl one. It may be 

 said in further support of this plan that in saving the large lobsters a 

 sort of artificial selection would be in process, the tendency of which 

 would be to favor the more vigorous and rapidly growing ones. 

 Often among lobsters in our cars at Wickford some will be found 

 which are several times larger than others of the same age reared 

 under similar conditions. (See Plate IV). This difference in rate 

 of growth is undoubtedly the same in nature. Consequently, if it is 

 made illegal to catch the large lobsters, the market will be supplied 

 for the most part from those lobsters which grow more slowly and 

 for this reason remain longer in the class which may be caught. The 

 faster growing ones will quickly pass into the class which is immune 

 and from these the stock of lobsters will be recruited. 



PROTECTING THE IMMATURE LOBSTERS. 



We should not, however, conclude from the above remarks that 

 only the large lobster should be protected. Protection should also 

 be given to the small lobsters, because they are beset with so many 

 natural enemies. Chief among the needs for the protection of the 

 small lobsters lies in their frequency of molting. A lobster sheds its 

 shell the first year about 14 or 15 times, and at each time it is soft 

 and helpless for a time. As it becomes older these molts decrease 

 until when an 8-inch length is reached the number has dropped to 

 twice a year, and if it is an egg lobster to once in two years. Also 



