128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



piece which is cleft like a fish's tail. The abdominal swimmerets 

 are lacking, and the limbs that usually bear the big claws are of the 

 same size as the walking limbs. In this, as in the second and third 

 stages, the fry are ravenous feeders. The average number of days 

 that the fry continue in this state at Wickford is five. 



Second Stage. (Plate XXVIII) After the first m^lt the lobster's 

 claws become a little larger than the other limbs, but remain hanging 

 down. The abdominal swimmerets appear, although the thoracic 

 swimming organs are used almost entirely in swimming. The tail 

 lacks those outer segments which cause it to be characterized later 

 as the "tail-fan." The average number of days in this stage at 

 Wickford is three. 



Third Stage. (Plate XXVHI .) The lobster after the second molt 

 has proportionally still larger claws than the larvae of the second 

 stage, but they still droop. The abdominal swimmerets become 

 fringed with short hairs, and the outer blades of the "tail-fan" make 

 their appearance. Swimming is still by use of the thoracic ap- 

 pendages. The greater size and more vigorous swimming causes 

 this stage to be easily distinguished from the preceding stages. Four 



days is the average length. 



xy» X 1 1 

 Fourth Stage. (Plate XXIX.) The lobster at this stage becomes 



shaped like the adult. The claws are carried in front while swimming. 

 The thoracic swimming appendages become reduced and function- 

 less, and in general the unmistakable resemblance to the adult 

 easily determines this stage from the preceding ones. The swimming 

 is now very vigorous, and, when swimming in the rearing bag, it 

 always heads toward the current. Burrowing is begun to a certain 

 extent in this period. The average number of days required at 

 Wickford to reach this stage from the time of hatching is thirteen. 



10. Adolescent Period. 



Later stages develop other structural changes, although more 

 gradually. At the seventh stage the appendages on the first ab- 



