71 



T^'^^J'*'^ 



■'.■^"isSiffi.^ ' 





J 



to 9,0()0 eggs, whilst in one measuring 16^ inches, the number was 85,000. As a result of an examination of nearly S,flO0 

 individuals, this author fin<ls •' that the numbers of eggs produced by a female lobster at each reproductive period vary in 

 geometrical series, whilst the length of the lobsters producing these eggs vary in arithmetical series." 

 Thus, an American lolister — 



8 inches long ])roduces 

 10 „ 



14 ,, 

 16 „ 



10,000 

 20,000 

 40,000 

 80,000 



Ehx-enbaum finds a similar state of things in tl\e Heligoland lobster, although the actual number of eggs in 

 individuals of the same length appears to be less in the European than in the American species. 



The English lohster, with its hirge front claws, is not fonnd in Anstraliiin waters, its nearest 

 jirototype being the jirickly fresli-water Mui-ray lolister, to which is akin the little yabhie fonnd in 

 all our creeks and lakes. 



MURRAY LOBSTER. 

 {Astocopsis sjnnifcr.} 

 Many of these Crayfish are sent to market, and are remarkably good eating. In 

 order to jjrevent them fighting each other it is necessary to tie their claws with a piece 

 of string ; some 

 of the fishermen ~"' 

 adojit a more 

 crnel practice of 

 driving a small 

 peg of wood into 

 the joint of the 

 claws, which pre- 

 vents their use. 

 If Crayfish suffer 

 in the flesh like 

 human beings 

 they must have 

 a real bad time, 

 as one would 

 have thought 

 tliat boiling alive 

 was sufficient, 

 without anterior 

 tortures. 



