98 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



100,000 eggs. When the female lobster is bearing eggs, she usually 

 frequents some rocky shore where she can better protect herself. 



As was mentioned in Section 2, "Natural Home and Migrations," 

 female lobsters when extruding their eggs are most often caught upon 

 sandy or smooth bottom. 



9. LARVAL STAGES. 



During the first two or three weeks which follow hatching, the 

 lobster passes through a larval period, during which it molts 3 times 

 before it takes on the general external appearance of the aclult. In 

 each period it differs in form and habits as well as size. The main 

 characteristics are as follows : 



First Stage. (Plate IX.) In this stage the lobster swims 

 rather feebly at the surface by the use of the outer branches of the 

 thoracic appendages. The last segment of the abdomen bears one 

 piece which is cleft like a fish's tail. The abdominal swimmerets 

 are lacking, and the limbs that usually bear the big claws are of the 

 same size as the walking limbs. In this, as in the second and third 

 stages, the fry are ravenous feeders. 



The average number of days that the fry continue in this stage at 

 Wickford is five. 



Second Stage. (Plate X.) After the first molt the lobster's 

 claws become a little larger than the other limbs, but remain hanging 

 down. The abdominal swimmerets appears, although the thoracic 

 swimming organs are used almost entirely in swimming. The tail 

 lacks those outer segments which cause it to be characterized later 

 as the "tail-fan." 



The average number of days in this stage at Wickford is three. 



Third Stage. (Plate XI.) The lobster, after the second molt, 

 has proportionally still larger claws than the larvas of the second 

 stage, but they still droop. The abdominal swimmerets become 

 fringed with short hairs, and the outer blades of the "tail-fan" 

 make their appearance. Swimming is still by use of the thoracic 



