REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 5 



The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of Larval Lobsters. L. W. 

 WilUams. 



Regarding the Behavior of the Larval and Early Adolescent Stages of the 

 American Lobster. P. B. Hadley. 



During the past year .vour Commission lias pursued the same gen- 

 eral policy as for several years past, but has extended its work con- 

 siderably along certain lines. 



The beneficial effect of stocking the fresh waters with appropriate 

 fish is now so obvious that it needs no argument. The work has been 

 carried on by the Commission for many years, and has so far won the 

 confidence of the anglers that they are now giving invaluable co-opera- 

 tion in enforcing the laws which give reasonable protection to the 

 fishing. Al;)out 40,000 fingerling trout were bought and distributed 

 last year. 



By act of the General Assembly a few years ago this Commission 

 was especially required to enforce the short lobster law, and has since 

 that time pushed the work with vigor and success. The first effect 

 of the enforcement was to cut down the amount of lobsters taken, 

 but the gradual increase in catch since then has proved the wisdom of 

 the measure. The expenses and salaries of the deputy Commission- 

 ers in enforcing this law is between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00. 



One great need of your Commission has been definite and reliable 

 information regarding the marine fishes which inhabit the waters of 

 the state, regarding their times of arrival and departure, their abund- 

 ance, their breeding habits and food, and the effect of fishing upon 

 the supply. It would be inexcusable if no effort were made to 

 obtain information regarding the extent and condition of so valuable 

 an industry as our fisheries. Your Commission has been for several 

 years systematically collecting and recording such data and from 

 time to time publishing in its reports such information as could be 

 put together with any degree of completeness. (See index.) 



During the last two years, especially, we have been able to publish 

 considerable data of this sort. 



