20 



mate to, or exceed the volume of the body of the 

 fish." 



It seems pretty evident that Mr. Meek has made the 

 error of obtaining the numbers of eggs dealt with by 

 simply multiplying the number of fish stripped by the 

 theoretical average number of eggs in the unripe ovar}^ 

 and did not actually have the numbers of eggs fertilized 

 estimated. His numbers, therefore, require considerable 

 reduction. We should say that instead of 500,000,000 

 a very much smaller number of eggs were really fertilized 

 and returned alive to the sea. 



We do not argue against the method advocated by Mr. 

 Meek, but rather regard it as eminently useful and practi- 

 cal, if the crews of trawlers have sufficient time and zeal 

 to carry it out. We think it useful, however, to point out 

 its limitations. 



On the Spawning of the Common Lobsteb, 

 By Andrew Scott. 



The exact process by which the eggs of the common 

 lobster of the British coasts are shed and conveyed to the 

 swimmerets, appears to have been hitherto unknown. 

 The following notes based on observations made at the 

 Piel Hatchery may therefore be of interest. 



In the first place a brief account of what is known 

 regarding the process in some of the other Crustacea is 

 given. 



Herrick in his great work on the American lobster,* 

 which is closely related to our own form, states (p. 47) 

 " I have not seen the process of egg extrusion and have no 

 direct observations to record. It has, however, been 

 witnessed in other Crustacea where it is undoubtedly 



* Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, Vol. XV. 



