HABITS AND GROWTH OF YOUNG LOBSTERS 



EXPElllMENTS IN LOBSTER-CULTURE. 



A. D. Mead, Ph. D., 



BROWN UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, R. I 



The investig-atious liere recorded were made during- tlie past 

 ye'ar at the new floating- laboratory of the K. I. Commission of In- 

 land Fisheries, located in Mill Cove at Wickford. They were under- 

 taken in conjunction with the U. S. Fish Commission, which 

 furnished an abundance of newly hatched fry and much of the re- 

 quisite apparatus for the work. 



The main purpose of the work this year was, first, to ascertain 

 the habits and rate of growth of the young- lobsters from the time 

 they were hatched until they had moulted three times and reached 

 the fourth stag-e of development ; and, second, to invent means for 

 rearing- them throug-h these stages of development. Desultory 

 observations of considera1>le interest were made, liowever, upon 

 the later stages. 



The critical nature of the early period of life was more than 

 ever emphasized by these observations. During- the first three 

 stages the young- are small and delicate and are esjiecially exposed, 

 since they swim constantly near the surface (if the water or, what 

 is worse, lie helpless on the bottom. They, moreover, lack both 

 the ability to move quickly and the instinct to escape their very 

 numerous enemies. Immediately on reaching- the fourth stage 



