72 INLAND FISHERIES. 



healthy appearance of the fry in all stao-es. The continual stir- 

 ring- prevented the accumulation of parasites found on the body of 

 nearly all of the specimens in the other lots. 



It is intended durino- the next season to follow up this experi- 

 ment with others, working- upon the same theory, namely, that the 

 water should be constantly stirred. To do this it will be necessary 

 to invent a mechanical device which will take the place of the oar, 

 and designs for such an apparatus are now being- made. 



The total number of fry reared to the fourth stag-e during- the 

 season at Wickford was 3,425, and the number for each lot, to- 

 g-ether with the more important data, is g-iven in the table on pag-e 

 78. 



In comparison with the results of the many attempts to rear 

 lobsters in various places during- this and previous years, the re- 

 sults at Wickford were eminently successful. 



Obseevations on the Later Stages. 



While the main problem for the past summer was to learn the 

 habits and discover means for rearing- the lobster up to the fourth 

 moult, it was impossil)le to resist the temptation of trying- some 

 preliminary experiments on the later stag-es. Accordingly several 

 cars were constructed with wire g-auze sides and having- heavy 

 plank boxes for bottoms. Gravel, stones and some sea-weed were 

 placed in the boxes, in order to imitate as closely as might be the 

 natural environment. Lobsters from various lots were put into 

 these cars, some as soon as they reached the fourth stag-e, and 

 others later. 



Without g-oing- into a detailed record of these experiments, we 

 may state the general results as follows : 



The lo])sters seemed to find in these boxes a very natural en- 

 vironment, and immediately took shelter under stones and shells 

 or else burrf)wed. Often an excavation of considerable size was 

 made by carrying- out pieces of gravel and depositing- them at a 

 short distance from the hole. These excavations in many instances 



