124 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES,. 



holes 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 lobsters to get through 

 and yet too narrow to allow fish to get in. As these strips are nailed 

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

 thus can readily be found by the young lobsters. The lobsters are 

 then 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 the 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 number 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 pro- 

 jecting sides. Within 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 twenty-four hours. 



11. LIBERATION OF THE EGG LOBSTERS. 



After the eggs are hatched from the hen lobsters a copper tag with 

 a serial number and the words "Return to the R. I. Fish Commis- 

 sion" is often fastened securely with fine wire to the lobster's beak. 

 (Plate XXIV.) Then, after the length and other data of interest have 

 been recorded, they are liberated at various places in the Bay. The 

 tags of those caught are returned by the lobstermen, with a record of 

 the date and place captured. Considerable information is thus col- 

 lected in regard to the migration of the lobsters, and, since the lobster 

 in molting casts off the tag together with the old shell, some data is 



