APPENDIX. 117 



The remainder were kept through the winter in floating cars which 

 were 4 feet deep. If proper care can be given the egg lobsters, the 

 method of buying the year around is preferable, as it creates a market 

 for the egg lobsters and takes away the incentive to scrape off the 

 green eggs; also, since the time in which they may be collected is 

 longer, a greater number of egg lobsters can be secured. In trans- 

 porting and handling the egg lobsters considerable care should be 

 exercised, especially when the eggs are nearly ripe. The extremes 

 of heat and cold, fresh water, and exposure to the air for any length of 

 time, are the things to be most guarded against. Whenever they are 

 to be shipped any distance it is preferable to have them contained 

 in the well of a boat where abundant circulation of water can be had. 

 Where a boat's well is not available a towing car like the one in 

 Plate XXI may be used. This is constructed of two barrels ballasted 

 with Portland cement to keep them right-side up, and connected 

 together with strips of furring. On the bottom, between these strips, 

 ■cracks are left wide enough to allow abundant circulation of water, 

 and on the upper side canvas flaps are provided to protect the lobsters 

 from the hot sun. The front end of the forward barrel is built out and 

 covered with tightly stretched canvas, in order that the car may tow 

 easier. Lobsters have been carried long distances in excellent con- 

 dition in this towing car. Wherever the lobsters must be shipped in 

 barrels, care should be taken not to allow the ice to come in contact 

 with the lobsters, as the fresh water from the melting ice will kill most 

 •of the eggs. If it is necessary to use ice in shipment, it should be so 

 arranged that neither the ice nor the fresh water come in contact with 

 the lobsters or with the eggs. This is readily accomplished by placing 

 in the center of the barrels long cans above five inches in diameter to 

 contain the ice. These should be covered with sacking to keep the 

 lobster eggs from the extremely cold cans. 



The lobsters, however obtained, should be confined in covered cars 

 which provide for abundant circulation of water. As the lobsters are 

 more or less crowded together, it is often necessary to secure their 

 claws in some way, to prevent fighting, which may result in their 



