132 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



gansett Bay in all probability is 9 inches, or slightly over, when it 

 becomes sexually mature. In Massachusetts Herrick found the 

 average to be 10^ inches, and perhaps in the colder water of the State 

 of Maine, it may be still greater. It is to be regretted that a uniform 

 law has not been established. 



3. Protection of Large Lobsters. Recently there has been con- 

 siderable controversy about changing the laws so as to prevent the 

 capture of lobsters over a certain length. In this way protection 

 would be given the large lobsters instead of the small ones. It is 

 argued in favor of this scheme that : 



(1) Lobsters bear eggs in geometrical proportion to their length: 

 8-inch lobsters, 5,000; 10-inch, 10,000; 12-inch, 20,000, etc. If 

 these old ones are saved more spawn will be hatched, and the greater 

 the number of eggs hatched, the greater number of lobsters will 

 result. 



(2) The larger the lobster becomes the more immune it is from 

 its enemies; and since, barring accidents, there seems to be no limit 

 to the size which it may attain, there will always be spawners to keep 

 up the supply. 



(3) It will be easy to enforce a law of this kind, since pots may be 

 required to have an opening under a certain size. This will prevent 

 the big lobsters from entering. 



(4) The older ones are not so tender meated, and thus the least 

 possible damage will be done to the fisheries. 



It is argued on the opposing side that, if the young ones were 

 caught, where would the old ones come from, and also that protection 

 should be given the lobster during the period which is most critical.^ 



4. A Double Limit. There are certainly good points on both 

 sides of the argument presented in the last section, and it would be 

 impossible to give judgment in favor of either. Perhaps the wise 

 plan, in view of the depleted condition of the lobster fishery, would 

 be to adopt both. Laws could be enacted preventing the legal 

 capture of those under 9 inches and over 14 inches. As a help to 



