150 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OP INLAND FISHERIES. 



seaweed of some sort, the lobsters would disappear, and close scrutiny 

 would reveal most of them lodging in the branches of the w^eeds and 

 following the stems down to the bottom. Some fry, of course, would 

 swim out, due mostly to the reaction from being in confinement. 

 Most of them, however, would soon go to the bottom. 



As has already been shown, the exact time when the lobster fry 

 leave off swimming, except when disturbed, varies somewhat. The 

 majority of lobsters in the fourth stage when confined in cars do 

 build burrows, and perhaps swim about only when in search of food 

 or upon some other stimulus; a minority will, however, either keep 

 swimming about on the sides of the car near the surface; but it is 

 not long before these, too, have taken up the habits of bottom life. 



From the above considerations it would seem that the lobsters 

 may, if care is taken, be liberated successfully after the first three or 

 four days of the fourth stage are passed. To be sure a later stage 

 is preferred, and as many stages later as may be will further insure the 

 lives of the lobsters liberated; but for practical rearing purposes the 

 fourth stage is probably sufficient. 



11. Liberation of (he Egg Lobsters. 



After the eggs are scraped or hatched from the hen lobster, a copper 

 tag with a serial number and the words "Return to the R. I. Fish 

 Commission'^ is fastened securely with fine wnre to the lobster's 

 beak. (Plate XXV.) Then, after the length and other data of in- 

 terest have been recorded, they are liberated at various places in the 

 Bay. The tags of those caught are returned by the lobstermen, with 

 a record of the date and place captured. Considerable information 

 is thus collected in regard to the migration of the lobsters, and, since 

 the lobster in molting casts off the tag together with the old shell, 

 some data is obtained in regard to the length of time before molting 

 after the eggs are hatched. 



12. Conditions Most Essential for the Location of a Rearing Plant. 

 The experience of the past five seasons in the operation of the plant 



