160 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



loss tliiiii il was ten and twenty years ago, and tliat niucli more than 

 hair arc now under the legal limit of U)h inches prescribed by the 

 iMassachusctts lishery regulations. The search Ibr egg lobsters has 

 also disitlos.'d the fact that the abundance of lobsters is still rapidly 

 decreasing on this coast. During the season of ISOO, r>9 lobsters with 

 dead eggs were taken, and among the females above 10 inches long 

 caught in this vicinity there was au average of only about 1 with 

 spawn to 12 without spawn. In November, ISOO, with 175 tra])S 

 set, the catch averaged 2 lobsters, measuring lOA inclies and over to 

 each trap per day. There was also an average of 1 egg lobster 

 to every 7 lobsters taken. In February, 1S91, 5 traps axeraged 1 

 10^-inch lobster and 10 small lobsters per day. In April, ISOl, 400 

 traps set in the bay and sound averaged about 100 lobsters per day, 

 measuring lOi inches and over, and about 10 egg lobsters. In May 

 the average per day was 1 large lobster to every 2 traps. Small lob- 

 sters were also less abundant than in previous years. At Monomoy, 

 where lobsters were formerly very common within a mile of the point, 

 the fishermen are now required to go nearly to tlie NantuclvCt shore 

 to set their traps. The catch in 1890 was only about half that of the 

 previous year. 



During October andNovember, 1890, Mr. Edwards made some interest- 

 ing observations on the fall molting of lobsters which indicate that the 

 habit of shedding at this seas{m is more common than has generally been 

 supposed. Eight si)ecimens were measured, and the increase in size in 

 each instance, ranging from one-half to IJ inches, was found to be 

 as follows: From 5 to G inches, from 5^ to CJ inches, from 7.i to 8 

 inches, from Tf to 8i inches, from 8 to 9 inches, from 8| to 9^ inches, 

 fi-om 9 to lOi inches, and from 11 to V2 inches. The rate of growth 

 seems, therefore, to vary considerably, even among individuals of ap- 

 ])roximately the same size. 



In the fall of 1890 Mr. F. N, Barrett, editor of the American Grocer, 

 New York, called the attention of the Commissioner to the fact that in 

 the canned-lobster trade cans were often found in which the contents 

 had turned black and Avere unfit for eating. This circumstance had 

 <-,reatcd c(»nsid<'rable i)rejndice against this inodnct, especially in the 

 foreign markets. Many causes had been assigned for the phenomenon, 

 none of which, how«'ver, were based upon an investigation of the 

 actual «'onditi<»n of the si>oiled goods. Several cans containing the 

 blackened lobsters were sent to AN'ashington, and were placed by the 

 Commissioner in the hands of Dr. William Gray, microscoi)ist of the 

 Army Medical Muscnm, lor analysis. ])r. Gray's stu<lies upon the 

 suliject have not yet been comi)leted, but in the discolored patches of 

 muscular tissue he has found a species of bacillus api)arent]y nude- 

 scribed, which is ])robably responsible for the changes observed in the 

 color and <M)nditi<>ii <»f lliis ]noduct. 



