94 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



others of the same age. (Plate IV.) From accounts of early days, 

 there seems to be no limit to the size which lobsters may attain; but 

 in recent years no lobster of over 25 pounds (21 inches in length) has 

 been authentically recorded.* From the slow growth which we know 

 lobsters have, this specimen could not have been under 20 years old, 

 and many considerations would point to a greater age. (Plate V.) 



The following table, giving the probable rate of growth of the lobster 

 from time of hatching to largest size known, was compiled by Dr. 

 P. B. Hadley, in 1906, while at the experiment station at Wickford: 



* In 1897 a lobster was caught off Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, which weighed 34 

 pounds, and was 23f inches in length. The shell of this lobster ,s now u. the Museum of 

 Natural History, New York City. 



