180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF IXLAXD FISHERIES. 



stage is in this case 21 per cent. By a consideration of Table No, 

 lOA, however, it becomes apparent that several of the lobsters must 

 have molted twice within the times of measurement. If we make 

 allowance for this fact, the estimated average increase for this stage 

 drops to 18 or 19 per cent. This deduction corresponds rather closely 

 with the observations recorded in Table No. 12. 



Now it is, that, when we consider the rate of growth during the 

 winter months, an interesting fact is observed. In Table No. 10 it 

 is shown that in the group of 17 lobsters (probably in the fifteenth 

 stage and averaging 87 mm. November 7) 14 individuals which were 

 measured the last of the following March had not increased a milli- 

 meter in length since the November measurement. This considera- 

 tion must have great weight in emphasizing the fact that young 

 lobsters, at least those over one year old, do not, under natural conditions, 

 molt during the last of November, December, January, February, or 

 March; that is to say, the average lobster passes its second winter in its 

 fifteenth stage, length 86 mtn. (3f inches). During the mouths of April 

 and May, however, it appears that the length of the 14 individuals 

 last mentioned increased 18.3 per cent. This fact would signify that 

 one molt has occurred and that a young lobster two years old is in its 

 sixteenth stage, having an average length of 102 mm. (4:j\inches) . 



VIII. Observations on the Rate of Growth of Lobsters over 

 TwQ Years Old. 



We come now to consider the rate of growth of lobsters over two 

 years old. (Stage 16, length 102 mm.) We ascertain from Table 

 No. lOB, that by September 10, after the third summer, the average 

 length is 122 mm. (4|- inches), showing an increase of about 16 per 

 cent, in the 12 individuals examined. Observations made October 

 4 reveal no further change in size. From this fact it seems safe to 

 believe that the average lobster, two years old, enters the seventeenth stage 

 sometime in the late summer of its third year and probably molts again . 



