34 



The bodies of these large fish are also not so well filled with 

 " meat " it is stated by Hshermen. 



The usual size of males of the best marketable value is 

 between this size down to about 3^ or 4 inches. Smaller 

 fish are not so useful at least for canning purposes. 



It is not known as yet what relation exists between the 

 age and size of the crawfish, and it may be useful to note 

 that in the lobster of the Northern Hemisphere it has been 

 found that those between 2 and 3 inches in total length may 

 be considered to be about one year old, those about 10 inches 

 four and a half to five years old. 



9. Enemies of the Crawfish. 



In considering any measures for the protection of the 

 crawfish it is necessary to have some knowledge of what 

 other enemies besides mankind the animal has. Thus, for 

 instance, the Octopus is a serious enemy of the crawfish, 

 when in its youngest crawling stages, and if one octopus 

 devours a hundred young crawfish to one caught by fishermen 

 there is not the amount of protection afforded to the animal 

 as one would at first sight suppose by the prohibition of the 

 catching of small crawfish. And from actual observation of 

 the behaviour of the animals in the tanks of the Marine Station 

 at St. James' there seems to be reason for believing that this 

 is what actually happens. There it was observed that the 

 healthy adult was well able to protect itself against the attacks 

 of the octopus by means of its long antennae, which are pro- 

 vided with strong and numerous spines, the points of which 

 are directed forwards. On the approach of an enemy these 

 tentacles are quickly brought forward, and, on contact with 

 them, neither fish nor octopus care to advance further. It 

 was only in the case of a " soft " crawfish (one which had just 

 cast its shell) or a sickly one that the octopus was able to 

 successfully attack its prey. It was different, however, with 

 the small crawfish, which, hke crabs and other small crus- 

 taceans, seem to constitute the chief source of food supply 

 for the octopus. If it be borne in mind that every rocky 

 coast is inhabited by numerous representatives of the octopus 

 tribe, and that these are constantly searching every nook 

 and cranny with their long arms for the small crustaceans on 

 which they feed, it will be realized that the chief mortahty 

 in crawfish life probably occurs at the early rock frequenting 

 stage. Reference is here made of course only to the very 

 young crawfish, up to about 2 inches in length of carapace. 

 There are many thousands of octopus to one fishermen engaged 

 in the capture of these small crawfish, and the methods of 



