REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 287 



.and that generally during the forenoon, the date of molting to the 

 sixth stage for each specimen is recorded as having occurred at 12 M. 



In order to secure better conditions for comparative purposes, 

 these specimens were also selected in pairs, the members of which 

 were equal in size. Accordingly these 12 lobsters were arranged into 

 six groups, with two specimens of equal length in each group. 



Three days after the molt to the sixth stage each specimen was 

 mutilated so as to cause the autotomy of some of the limbs. The 

 degree of mutilation was such that one lobster in each group had only 

 the right cheliped removed, while the other member of each group 

 had both chelipeds and the third and fourth pairs of walking legs 

 removed. Accordingly, in regard to the number of limbs removed, 

 the degree of mutilation for half of these lobsters was six times more 

 than for the remaining specimens. The group of specimens with 

 only one cheliped gone will be designated as series D, and the other 

 group, with the larger degree of mutilation, as series E. 



It is evident from the previous results that, if the mutilations in 

 the present experiment had been made later in the molting period, 

 the effect upon the length of the period would have been much 

 greater. But, on the other hand, it is equally evident that in a later 

 mutilation it is not so certain that the injury will be followed by the 

 regeneration of the limb. Accordingly, in order to increase the 

 chances that all the mutilations would be succeeded by the regenera- 

 tion of the limbs before the next molt, the operations were made 

 early in the molting period. If, however, the amount of regeneration, 

 as determined by the degree of injury, has any influence upon 

 length of the molting period, it seemed reasonable to expect that, 

 even under these rather unfavorable conditions in regard to the 

 time of mutilation, there ought to be some difference in the molting 

 periods of these two series of lobsters corresponding to a difference 

 in the degree of injury. 



