APPENDIX. 93 



in as shoal water as in the spring. Here in quite deep water green 

 egg lobsters are so. abundant as to merit the name of " school egg 

 lobsters" — often comprising more than half of the entire catch. 



Often near the close of the lobster season (Nov. 15), lobsters may 

 be readily caught within Narragansett Bay on muddy bottom. 



3. FOOD. 



Although lobsters are called the "scavengers of the sea" and do 

 undoubtedly feed on dead fish, yet they seem to prefer recently 

 killed food. Rotten fish, while it probably attracts hungry lobsters, 

 is found to remain untouched, or is even pushed aside, by lobsters 

 in cars, which have been reasonably well fed. Lobsters in their 

 natural homes undoubtedly have long intervals between meals, and 

 eat ravenously when any food is found. This will account for the 

 ease with which they are caught in pots. The food of the lobster 

 includes nearly all kinds of fish ; whatever shellfish it can find, crabs, 

 and other invertebrates. Pieces of shell and pebbles are also found 

 in their stomachs. The material for the hardening of the shell is 

 probably obtained from the former. The lobster does not hesitate 

 to eat another lobster which has been weakened by molting or 

 injury. This cannibalism is most marked in the larvae, where it is a 

 most serious obstacle to rearing. 



The following list of articles are used in Rhode Island for baiting- 

 lobster pots: — (these are given in order of preference.) 



Halibut heads, bluefish heads, menhaden (this kind is used chiefly 

 when fishing on smooth bottom because it is a soft fish. On rocky 

 bottom, the chogsetts would steal the bait), sculpin, sea-robins, whit- 

 ings (the last three are used mostly in the spring), flounders, herring, 

 and small fish used in net bags. 



4. LENGTH OF LIFE. 



The age of a lobster can only be told with a moderate degree of 

 accuracy. Size may be an indication, but frequently, among those 

 reared in cars, some will be found four or five times the length of 



