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he has devised “for the rearing of young lobsters up to 
the fourth moult, at which time, as you are well aware, 
the animals become pugnacious, their shells become hard, 
and they adopt many of the peculiarities of habit of the 
adult, and, moreover, they appear to be hardy and well 
able to look out for themselves.” Professor Bumpus goes 
on to say— “ For convenience I have termed this stage 
the ‘ Lobsterling’ stage, and I am inclined to think that 
if we should succeed in raising even a small percentage 
of the fry to this lobsterling stage before berating them, 
we might accomplish for the lobster fishery what the 
release of ‘ fingerlings’ has accomplished for the trout 
fishery. Inasmuch as you are experimenting in the same 
line, and since one of the most important, and at the 
same time one of the most inviting problems of marine 
biology to-day is the preservation of the lobster industry, 
I take the liberty to tell you of our experiments during 
the past year, and if vou should have opportunity or 
inclination to adopt similar methods, I should be very 
glad to learn of your results.” The further details which 
are given have been sent to Mr. Andrew Scott for use in 
his work at Piel. During last summer the disturbance 
of work consequent upon the sale of the old steamer and 
the purchase of the new one prevented any supply of 
lobsters from reaching the hatchery until it was too late, 
but during the coming season we hope to resume work 
upon the hatching and rearing of this very important 
economic animal. 
In concluding this general part of the Annual Report 
I desire to draw the Committee's attention once more to 
the pressing need of a pond or some large open-air tanks 
at Piel, both for the reception of spawning fish and also, 
later in the season, for the purpose of rearing the fry 
obtained by the hatching operations, The tanks would 
