CRUSTACEA IN RELATION TO MAN 239 



Fig. 9, p. 32). It is found on the Atlantic coast 

 from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, but it is not 

 abundant south of New Jersey. The canning of 

 Lobsters is a very important industry in Newfound- 

 land, the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and the 

 Northern New England States. 



The only other species of the genus Homarus (H. 

 capensis) is found at the Cape of Good Hope, but it is 

 of small size and is of no economic importance. 



The European Lobster rarely reaches a weight 

 of 10 pounds, although individuals of 14 pounds 

 weight have been caught. In America, there are 

 authentic records of Lobsters weighing 20 and even 

 23 pounds. 



The bad effects of over-fishing have become 

 apparent of late years, especially on the American 

 coast, in the reduced average size of the Lobsters 

 caught rather than in a diminution of the total yield 

 of the fishery. Numerous experiments in legislation 

 have been made with a view to checking the deple- 

 tion of the fishing-grounds, but in no case with con- 

 spicuous success. A '* close time " for the spawning 

 Lobsters has often been tried, but the fact that the 

 female carries the eggs attached to her body for 

 nearly a year after spawning makes it quite impos- 

 sible to give effective protection by this means. In 

 most Lobster-fishing districts a minimum size is 

 fixed by law, below which it is illegal to take or sell 

 Lobsters, and in many cases also the capture of 



