A METHOD OF LOBSTER CULTURE. 237 
1907, 40.6 per cent and 39 per cent were obtained in two respective tests, while 
one of the boxes yielded 42 per cent. About 40 per cent may be considered a 
fair yield for lots of 20,000 under the present system of operation. By using 
more fry more fourth-stage lobsters can be obtained from a single car, but 
the percentage probably falls. 
There is another very different point of view from which the efficiency 
of the present method may be judged, namely, the number of fourth-stage 
lobsters which it will produce per egg lobster under fair conditions. Toward 
the latter part of the season two years ago, when the supply of eggs from the 
ordinary source had suddenly been cut off, 56 egg lobsters were received from 
Noank through the courtesy of the Connecticut Fish and Game Commission. 
From these there were hatched and reared to the fourth stage 84,896 young 
lobsters, giving an average of somewhat over 1,500 per egg lobster. 
SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION. 
Summarizing the actually obtained results of rearing lobster fry to the 
fourth stage by the method herein described: Since the present method was 
first put into operation in its crude form where the water was stirred by an 
oar the output has each year (with one exception) increased. The extremes 
are represented by the total of 3,425 in 1900 and of 322,672 in 1908. The 
‘grand total for the eight years is 1,014,320, more than half of which were pro- 
duced in the last two years. With lots of 20,000 newly hatched fry from 40 
to 48 per cent (counted) have been carried through to the fourth stage fre- 
quently, and 40 per cent may be said to be a fair average to expect under good 
conditions. From 56 egg lobsters nearly 85,000 fourth-stage lobsters were 
obtained, showing an average of about 1,500 per individual. 
In order to interpret these results fairly, there are certain things which 
deserve consideration. Even when operating on a practical scale, we have 
been feeling our way over new ground to further improvement of the method. 
Not a year has passed without decided changes in the method or the apparatus. 
While this procedure leads to the best final outcome, it does so at a sacrifice 
of immediate results. Accidents, also, of certain classes—for example, the 
loss of larve through broken screens—must be charged against the present 
apparatus and not against the method. Delays in construction, difficulty in 
getting egg lobsters, etc., may be due to misfortune or to mismanagement, but 
do not affect the permanent value of the method. 
Capacity and efficiency of plant.—The plant as it stands to-day must be 
judged by the results actually attained; but having watched closely its operation 
I may venture the personal opinion that it has not yet produced to its full 
capacity and that the 24 cars are capable, under good conditions and with allow- 
ances for inevitable mistakes, of hatching and rearing 500,000 lobsters in the 
