COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 79 



shores that are full of rocks and shells and quite free from small fish. 

 This year for liberation in deeper water we have tried out two devices. 



One of these is a covered box weighted with stones and with numer- 

 ous large holes bored in the sides near the bottom. On the outside 

 of the box, stripes of wood wider than the diameter of the hole are 

 nailed over the holes in such a way as to leave a crack on the lower 

 side of the strip large enough for the lobster to get through, and yet 

 too narrow to allow fish to get in. As the strips are nailed on the 

 outside only, the holes are left the entire size on the inside and thus 

 can be readily found by the young lobsters. The* lobsters are placed 

 in the box, which is covered, sunk to the bottom, and left for a day or 

 two. In this length of time the lobsters have gradually worked out 

 of the box through the numerous holes. 



The second, and better method, is to construct a wooden box with 

 a tight cover and with a bottom made of galvanized screening, eight 

 meshes to the inch. This screen is fastened three inches up from the 

 lower edges of the sides. This allows the sides to project three inches 

 below the bottom of the car, and consequently the car may sink a 

 little way into a soft bottom and still leave the screen a little higher 

 than the mud. The mesh of the screen is then spread open in a num- 

 ber of places, so as to leave holes large enough to permit the lobsters to 

 crawl out. In lowering the car the inrush of water keeps the lobsters 

 away from the holes, and when the car rests on the bottom an inclosed 

 place is formed under the screen between the projecting sides. With- 

 in this inclosure the lobsters, after they crawl out, can burrow in the 

 ocean bed unmolested by fish. The car can usually be removed at 

 the end of 24 hours. 



The aim of the methods indicated above, may be briefly sum- 

 marized as follows: 



The economical rearing of the lobster larvaB until they have 

 acquired the habit and instincts of " bottom " life and then to estab- 

 lish them upon a bottom suitable for their subsequent protection and 

 growth. 



