COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 67 



us to decide is, are we going to allow the possible loss of a few pounds 

 of lobsters to blind our eyes to the ultimate benefit which this law 

 will be to the industry? 



Objection 3. We cannot hope by natural conditions to restock the 

 lobster industry. The proper method is to care for this great abundance 

 of eggs in some artificial manner. 



To a certain extent your Commission entirely agrees with this 

 idea, but it may be pointed out that nature deals on such a colossal 

 scale that our efforts seem very tiny. Furthermore, while it is 

 part of the general scheme of your Commission to artifically rear as 

 many as it can handle, on the other hand is it not a part of wisdom 

 to allow nature with her billions of eggs to assist? The saving of 

 these large breeders will certainly render very great assistance, how- 

 ever low the rate of survival. 



CLOSE SEASON. 



The justification of a change in the close season when lobsters 

 may not be caught lies principally in the fact of affording protection 

 to the egg lobsters. Presuming that egg lobsters will continue to be 

 purchased the change of date from November 15th to November 

 1st will result in the purchase of less " green " egg lobsters. Ending 

 the close season fifteen days earlier (April 1st) will result in the pur- 

 chase of more ripe egg lobsters. These can be handled with excel- 

 lent results in our hatchery. Furthermore, the excess of green egg 

 lobsters, i. e. those which cannot be kept through the winter at the 

 hatchery, are at present liberated at the beginning of the close season 

 and by making the commencement of this season fifteen days earlier, 

 many will be saved, as the mortality of crowded cars will be lessened. 

 It is further to be pointed out that in these changes the least possible 

 injury is done to the lobster industry, as most lobstermen have taken 

 up their gear by November 1st. 



Your Commission therefore recommends that the close season 

 should extend from midnight, October 31, to midnight, March 31. 



