10 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



situation than as many millions of larvse of the first stage, with the 

 setting free of which we had previously to be satisfied. With the 

 taking up of life on the bottom the great dangers that threaten 

 the life of the young lobster are chiefl}' over." 



During the season of 1907 the output of lobsters in the fourth 

 stage was greater by about 50 per cent, than ever before — 294,896 as 

 against 189,384 for the year 1906. The season was unusually late, 

 owing to the cold weather in April and May. The sudden warming 

 of the water at the close of the cold period resulted in crowding the 

 ■capacity of the plant so that its efficiency was not as great as it 

 might otherwise have been. 



In the report of 1906 several suggestions were made for improve- 

 ing the efficiency of the lobster-rearing plant at Wickford. The weak 

 condition of the eggs when received at the station was a serious 

 handicap. To correct this your Commission recommended the 

 purchase of a launch large enough to fetch the egg lobsters directly 

 from the lower bay at frequent intervals. A satisfactory launch was 

 purchased and was used during the summer for general purposes, 

 but was received too late for lobster operations last season. It is 

 hoped that during the coming season a very great improvement will 

 be made in the condition in w^hich the lobster eggs are received. 



A very considerable alteration in the lobster-rearing plant was in- 

 stituted which will be put into effect next season. The large canvas 

 hatching bags which have been used for several years have been re- 

 placed by wooden boxes of the same size. The boxes, like the bags, 

 are provided with windows of woven wire in the bottom and sides, to 

 allow for the circulation of water. Several boxes were tried experi- 

 mentally last summer and proved to be very satisfactory. They 

 have many advantages over the canvas bags. The latter were 

 easily torn or punctured, especially when they had been in use for 

 more than one season, and even small holes will allow the exit of 

 lo])ster fry and, worse yet, the entrance of the destructive shrimp 

 and the mummychogs. 



Twenty-four hatching boxes each aliout 10x10x4 feet, have l)een 



