REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



169 



Reference to the foregoing tables demonstrates several important 

 facts. First it will be observed that, though the stage periods of the 

 lobsters observed in 1904 are for the most part longer than the stage 

 periods of the selected lobsters (1905), the average size for the 1905 

 group is much greater. Furthermore it is observed that, while the 

 total average increase for stages 4 to 12 in the 1904 group is 18 .4 per 

 cent., the average increase for these stages in the 1905 group is 20.9 

 per cent.; and that the increase in the case of Herrick's lobsters for 

 the same stages is only about 14 per cent. In consequence it is evi- 

 dent that there may be great variation in the rate of development in 

 different localities and under different conditions. Further, that 

 there is a tendency manifested in those individuals which are slightly 

 above the normal in size and strength to increase the advantage 

 which they have already gained. This advantage in size of the fourth 

 stage lobsters may be no more than a millimeter, but this slight gain, 

 compounded through numerous successive stages, gives, even in the 

 tenth and eleventh stages, a decided lead which may be observed in 

 individuals recorded in Table No. 5 (1905 group). Through the 

 courtesy of Mr. V. E. Emmel, the writer is able to append a table 

 showing the result of observations upon a few stages of normal 

 average lobsters in his keeping for the summer of 1905. 



Table No. 7. 

 Showing the size of some normal average lobsters in the summer of 1905.=* 



•■Data from Mr. V. E. Emmel. 

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