81 



there was a fair amount of plankton present no food was given. 

 It is possible that better results might have followed if feeding at 

 intervals had been done, but not to such an extent as to enable us 

 to say that some modification of the Laboratory tank method 

 could be recommended for rearing lobster larvse. 



A floating tank was tried at the Fame Islands. It consisted 

 of a wooden frame covered with stout cotton, and was anchored 

 in the only relatively safe place in the region. On July 12th, 750 

 larvae were placed in it, and these were fed on plankton every day. 

 Everything went on quite satisfactorily until July 23rd, when a 

 north-east gale tore the cloth from the frame, and allowed the 

 larvse to escape. The frame was next Uned with sailcloth, and 500 

 larvae placed in it, but heavy weather again brought about a sub- 

 mersion of the tank at intervals, and the escape of the larvse. 



Although this last experiment was unfortunately unsuccessful, 

 I am becoming more and more convinced that some modification — 

 that is, to suit differences of locaHty — of the floating tank system 

 is what ought to be aimed at in elaborating an apparatus for rearing 

 lobsters. In Dr. Meade's hands the method has reached a high 

 degree of success. It allows of an adequate exchange of water, 

 the maintenance of a low equable temperature, and a complete 

 control over the work. 



There is only one place in Northumberland which at a moderate 

 expense could be utiHzed for the purpose, the quarry pond at Amble, 

 described in the Report for 1905. This place would allow of an 

 experiment in hatching and in rearing being made on as large a 

 scale as may be desired. The raft wdth the floating tanks would 

 be amply protected, and to begin with, the whole pond could be 

 used for obtaming the larvse. At all events, I feel we have gone 

 far enough in laboratory experiment, and what is wanted now is 

 a demonstration on a large scale of the floating tank system. 



The hatching tank was emptied on August 8th, and 37 lobster- 

 lings were found. All the berried females, except two, had com- 

 pletely hatched out their larvse, and one had cast her shell. 



Nineteen of the berried females after hatching cast in the 

 Laboratory. ^ These were marked as soon as it was possible to 

 handle them, and were Hberated in Cullercoats Bay with the follow- 

 ing results : — 



