The worth of the lobster per kilogram is the greatest at a 

 \'ireight of 4-6 hectograms per -individual - one can then 'at once take 

 for granted that lobsters under, this weight are worth less .both per 

 individual and per kilogram. This is also grounds for inaking a 

 minimup. measure- which will assure^a weight of '4 hectograms- - that 

 is 23-24 om* , ..•■:., 



Marking experiments show that male Ipbsters between 22-26 cm, 

 gain around 1.3 hectograms per year - females, .hoviever, about o6 hg. 

 These data show that the minimum size can be raised v/ithout fear to 

 23-24 cm. About half will be caught again vj-ithin a year v/ith a 

 gain in -vreight'of about 1 hectogram, also prime quality. Those 

 caught later will be slightly larger than the finest size, but hore 

 their gain in grff-rth will surely outweigh their decreased quality. 

 It would be only exceptionally that thejr would gain a size that 

 v;ould mean a markdovm in price (over 1' kilogram). 



Without directly increasing the yield'of the stock by greater 

 weight., the raising of the minimum measure will vrork indirectly in 

 that the size betvreen the present minimum measure 21- cm* and 23 to 

 24 cmo amounts to the important part of the spavming stock. If 

 you spare, this part for propagation, an overvrhelming good v/ill 



Restrictions on seed lobsters stand in a little different 

 light a Since the greater part of the seed lobsters are first 

 quality, one makes considerable sacrifice in preserving the stock 

 by this restriction. The right for (taking) '-such a step is this - 

 that a lobster »s value in reproducing its kind becomes greater the 

 closer it approaches the hatching time - it has avoided all peril 

 and has made use of the greater part of its increase jLn nourishment 

 for the development of the eggs. ^ . 



It :is...clear that a restriction on lobsters that are ready to 

 spavm will mean bbth a direct and indirect gain to the stock. It 

 is true enough that catching lobsters ready to spavm is unimportant 

 (in number) with regards to other lobsters. Lpbsters spawn ns a 

 rule only every other yecr, but the stock of. seed lobsters in the 

 ocean surely is also small, yet restrictions established vri.ll for 

 all that have great meaning in conparisono 



A v;ider development of thought about the restrictions on seed 

 lobsters is the protection of the eggs and the hatched out young - 

 nov.' not against persecution by man but against all the perils that 

 arise in nature. This leads us over to lob-st>jr culture in a sense, 

 to the hatching and rearing. 



In spite of (the fact) that the lobster fishery's yearly yield 

 is hot as great by far as the (yield of) most of our edible species 

 of fish, the lobster is still counted as a very valuable o.nima.lo 



67 



