39 



This serves to explain the figures furnished by the Board 

 with reference to the gradual increase in the number of females 

 in proportion to the males to a certain size, in our case about 

 11 to 12 in., and the decrease thereafter. The figures gathered 

 at Sea Houses by Mr. G. FaAvcus illustrate this point for 

 Xorthumberland. Up to 190-4, for six years this fisherman 

 cauoiit above 9 in, : — 



1905 



436 1,461 



This gives a proportion of 100 males to 133 females in the total 

 catch for all sizes above 9 in. 



The records obtained by the Board serve to show that the 

 spawning and hatching seasons are not very different around 

 our coasts. The spawning season is usually July to September, 

 reaching a maximum about the end of August. The hatching 

 season appears to be June to August, reaching a maximum in 

 July. This is true also of Northumberland, but we have early 

 and late seasons. We have had for example experience of 

 hatching taking place as late as October, and in an early season 

 we have found all the hatching finished early in July. 



Reference is made to the fall in the catch of the berried 

 lobsters during the Avinter months. This has been amply 

 illustrated in the reports laid before the Northumberland 

 Committee, the conclusion come to based on this and the mark- 

 ing experiments, being that the berried lobster usually remains 

 inshore, while the others migrate to a greater or less extent into 

 deeper and even into extraterritorial waters when they are liable 

 to be caught at this season by trawlers. It is very rarely that 

 berried lobsters are caught at this or any other period of the 

 year by trawlers. 



Interesting notes are next given with reference to the 

 relationship of length to weight. It is calculated from the 

 results that a 9 in. limit would result in the loss of 13 to 14 per 

 cent, of the total value of the catch. It is stated also that if a 

 9 in. limit were in force and it was determined to raise the limit 

 to 10 in. this would bring about an additional loss of about 23 

 per cent, of the total catch. 



