146 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



7. Hatching the Eggs. 



As soon as a lobster's eggs reach the point where they will hatch 

 in two or three hours, the lobsters are transferred to flat crates 

 (three feet square and four inches deep) made of laths about an 

 inch apart. These crates, which must float when filled with lobsters, 

 are placed in the rearing bags and the paddle started. (Plate XXII.) 

 Care should be taken not to permit the lobsters remaining so long in 

 the retaining cars that hatching commences there, for if this occurs 

 many fry will be lost. Yet at the same time only those whose eggs 

 are on the point of hatching should be put into the bags, for this 

 enables one to get a sufficient number of fry in the bag in a very few 

 hours, and also all the fry are about the same age. Naturally this 

 is a very important factor because of their cannibalistic habits, for 

 if lobster fry of assorted sizes are in the same bag the danger of their 

 devouring one another is much greater than as if they are all of the 

 same age, although this danger is reduced to a minimum in the rearing 

 bags. 



The crate, also, to a certain extent, impedes the circulation of the 

 water, and consequently the sooner removed the better. Besides 

 this, the longer the egg lobsters remain in the crates the more un- 

 hatched eggs are scraped off into the bags, and though many of these 

 are subsequently hatched, they stand no show against their older 

 fellows. The crates should be allowed to float around with the cur- 

 rent, as many fry would be lost by being dashed against a stationary 

 crate. It is better, however, to fasten the crates loosely about the 

 paddle shaft so that it can not damage the bag by striking against it. 



8. Feeding. 



Feeding is another operation which requires much attention. 

 (Plate XXIII.) The lobster fry in all stages eat ravenously and with- 

 out much selection of food. Almost anything in the way of animal 

 food will serve them for a meal. Their cannibalistic habits have been 



