REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. . 5 



224 more than were reared durinp; this one season of 1905. There 

 seems to be no reason why, with the increased knowledge coming 

 from each season's experience, this number might not still further 

 be increased, while using the same apparatus, and with no extra 

 expense. 



The practical results of this ])lanting of young lobsters is un- 

 questioned. Reports from the loljster fishermen show that more 

 small lobsters were present in the localities where the fry were 

 liberated than have been seen l^efore for many years. It will be but 

 a few years before these small lobsters will be of marketable size, 

 and then the expense of developing the lobster rearing plant of the 

 Commission will be returned to the inhabitants of the state many 

 times over. 



Such results as these are very gratifying, especially when we 

 consider that nowhere else in the world have any such results been 

 obtained. Indeed, nowhere else has it been possible to rear lobster 

 fry at all successfully, and the results of your Commission's work 

 have attracted the attention of those interested in promoting the 

 fishery interests in all parts of the world. 



In this country our work has been watched by the United States 

 Bureau of Fisheries and the commissioners of other maritime states, 

 and now that our efforts are crowned with success both the national 

 Bureau and the commissioners of other states are ready to follow 

 our example. Indeed, the neighboring State of Connecticut has 

 already appropriated $10,000 to establish a hatchery, and a com- 

 mittee has visited our laboratory at Wickford to secure the informa- 

 tion necessary to begin operations in their own waters. 



With each year the efforts of your Commission to enforce the laws 

 regarding the capture of short lobsters or lobsters bearing eggs 

 meet with better success. Two deputies have continued to safe- 

 guard the interests of the lobster fishery, and have succeeded in 

 prosecuting three offenders under the short-lobster law. They have 

 seized and liberated in the waters of the bay 5,170 short lobsters 

 imported into the state contrary to law. The fishermen are coming 



