REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 269 



c. Discussion of Results. 



A comparison of the data for series A, A^, and A4 demonstrates 

 a relation between the length of the molting period and the process 

 of regeneration. 



Twenty-seven of the 30 lobsters in series A were in a normal condi- 

 tion before and after molting to the fifth stage. Out of the 21 

 lobsters which molted to the fifth stage in series Aj, 16 specimens 

 Tiad regenerated the chelipeds. In series A4, 23 of the 25 specimens 

 lived and molted; 19 of them had regenerated the appendages 

 removed by mutilation. 



The average number of days in molting from the fourth to the 

 fifth stage was as follows: Series A, 12 days; series A^, 12.5 days; 

 and series A4, 14.2 days. In series A4 the molting period was 2^ 

 days longer than the corresponding period for series A. In other 

 words, the normal molting period was lengthened over 18 per cent-, 

 in the regenerating lobsters. 



The effect of regeneration in these experiments is also graphically 

 illustrated by the frequency curves in Chart VIII. If the process 

 of regeneration really has lengthened the molting period, then both 

 the climax and the general position of the curve for the regenerating 

 series A4 should be to the right of the climax and position of the 

 curve for the normal control series A. A comparative examination 

 of the two curves plainly proves this to be the case; for the climax 

 for curve A occurred July 20, while the corresponding climax for 

 <;urve A4 occurred a day later, July 21. Again, curve A4 both 

 begins and ends several days later than does curve A. Consequently 

 the general outline or position of curve A4 has been shifted to the 

 right of the normal curve A. It is clearly shown, therefore, that the 

 molting period for the regenerating series is longer than the corre- 

 sponding period for the normal series. 



It may be noted that the form of these two curves is not quite 

 the same. This is largely due, probably, to the smaller number of 

 individuals in series A4 than in series A. No doubt a larger number 



