REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 117 



fourth stage lobsters. Because of its nearness, the region about 

 Conanicut Island has received the greater part of the output in the 

 past years. Walter H. Munroe, who sets lobster pots along the west 

 shore of Conanicut, reports that during the past year he very seldom 

 pulled in his pots but that four or five small lobsters would slip out 

 between the slats. At Dutch Island Harbor, somewhat near the 

 central part of the island, the lobsters under nine inches are so 

 numerous that the lobster deputies have had considerable difficulty 

 in preventing their sale. It is the common opinion that, in spite 

 of their vigilance, barrels of "shorts" have found their way into the 

 market from this place. The two deputies are very much handi- 

 capped in their efforts by having such an extensive shore to cover, 

 especially considering that their only means of getting to the pots is 

 in what boats they can get on the nearest shore. The great number 

 of small-sized lobsters looks very promising for the future supply 

 of lobsters in Narragansett Bay, and extremely encouraging for the 

 scheme of rearing used at Wickford. 



RECORDS. 



A careful record of each lot of lobsters, with conditions under 

 which they were reared, was made and filed in a card catalogue. 

 From this catalogue the following tables are taken: 



