APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
AMERICAN AND SPINY LOBSTERS 
Domestic fishermen harvest two types of lobster, the 
American lobster and the spiny lobster. The American lobster 
is found from Labrador, Canada, to North Carolina. The in- 
shore area (within 12 miles of the coast) from Maine to Cape 
Cod Bay, Massachusetts, has historically produced the major- 
ity of American lobster landings. This 10-legged crustacean is 
located in waters ranging from a few feet to over 1,000 
feet deep. The greatest numbers are caught in rocky inshore 
waters. In recent decades many lobsters have been caught in 
offshore areas along the continental shelf, which slopes up 
to 100 miles from shore. 
After shedding their shells (molting), American lobsters 
are especially vulnerable to predators, including other 
lobsters. In Maine, the leading lobster producing State, 
lobsters reach harvestable size in about 4 to 7 years. The 
1973 landings of 29 million pounds, worth $41.6 million, 
using ex-vessel prices, ranked this fishery tenth in volume 
and first in value among Atlantic coast fisheries. A major 
problem in this fishery, is the depletion of the inshore re- 
source occurring because inadequate management controls have 
led to overfishing of available stocks. 
The spiny lobster is found in U.S. waters along the 
east coast of Florida from Cape Canaveral to the Dry Tortugas. 
The primary concentration is in the southern part of the 
State, mostly on the east coast of the mainland and in the 
Florida Keys. 
The spiny lobster resembles the American lobster in 
general appearance but lacks the large claws. Some of its 
distinguishing characteristics are numerous spines covering 
the body, two especially large spines or horns projecting 
over the eyes, and legs longer than those of the American 
lobster. Over 4 years are required for spiny lobsters to grow 
to a minimum legal harvesting size. In general, adult lobster 
movements are described as random wanderings, usually over 
short distances of 5 miles or less; but longer wanderings 
do occur on occasion. 
The U.S. landings of spiny lobsters in 1972 were 12.2 
million pounds, worth $12.8 million, which ranked the spiny 
lobster eighth in volume and third in value among fisheries 
in the Gulf States. The U.S. spiny lobster fishery is con- 
centrated primarily in the State of Florida which in 1972 
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