REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 101 



the water and are easily devoured by the fry, a single liver being 

 sufficient to feed many thousands" ( p. 44). 



b. Young Fish. 



The liver of the lobster seemed at first a fairly good food for the 

 young lobster fry, but it has several objectionable features. Not 

 only does the use of the liver involve the sacrifice of adult lobsters, 

 but the uneaten liver rapidly decays and pollutes the water. More- 

 over, it was observed that as the lobsters become older they seem to 

 fiourish better on living food than on the prepared liver. 



This suggested the use of young fish. These seemed in many 

 respects an ideal food, for the fish fry liberated in the hatching bags 

 could be eaten at any time by the young lobsters. Unfortunately 

 this experiment was not a success. In searching for a fish whose 

 young could be raised for food, the goose-fish was selected. But 

 when the young fish were finally obtained, it was found that the 

 lobsters would not eat them. It was believed that the lobsters were 

 not attracted by the young goose-fish on account of its dark color. 



Reference has been made to the early use of shredded codfish. 

 Other adult fish were also used for food. It is true that the flesh of 

 various fishes is readily eaten by the lobster, but its use is not prac- 

 tical on account of the oil which exudes from the fish and fills the 

 \Aater in the rearing bags. 



c. Copepods and Other Surface-Swimming Organisms. 



Experiments were also made with copepods and other organisms, 

 swimming near the surface of the sea. They were readily caught in 

 large quantities by drawing a fine-meshed net along the surface of 

 the water. These organisms furnish a natural food. The young 

 lobster's preference for copepods has recently been clearly shown by 

 Dr. L. W. Williams.* In his examination of the stomach contents 



* L. W. Williams, "The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of the Larval Lobster."" 

 37th Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, 1907, p. 153-181,. 

 10 Plates. 



