REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 89 
Lobster.—This was the most successful season of production, the oper- 
ations extending from April 15 to June 22, affording 702 egg-lobsters, 
from which were obtained 10,037,000 eggs. The former practice of 
obtaining lobsters by the agency of the station employees was continued 
only in part, 86 lobsters being secured in this way, the remaining 616 
by purchase. The buying of egg-lobsters out of season was made pos- 
sible by the regular appointment of the superintendent of the station 
as a deputy for the enforcement of the fishery protective laws of the 
State of Massachusetts. This appointment came through Hon. E. A. 
Brackett, chairman of the board of commissioners of fish and game, 
and authorized purchase by the United States Fish Commission, the 
conditions being that all egg-lobsters should be returned alive to the 
water after removal of eggs and while being held for manipulation they 
should be kept in live cars bearing the names of the United States Fish 
Commission and the fish commission of the State of Massachusetts, 
The 86 lobsters captured by employees produced 895,000 eggs, the others 
9,142,000. The young, liberated at the age of 24 to 48 hours, amounted 
to 8,818,000. In addition to the above there were liberated in July, 
1892, 1,100,000, hatched from eggs collected in June of the preceding 
fiscal year. 
The lobsters obtained by purchase were principally from the vicinity 
of Gay Head, weights running from 4 to 94 pounds each, the price 
paid to fishermen being 5, 8, and 10 cents per lobster. A statement 
of operations by months, on a basis of 6,090 eggs to the fluid ounce, is 
given below: 
No. of Egg yield per individual. 
Month. lobsters eee ao 
stripped: |); 00 P Ne Greatest. | Smallest. | Average. 
STIL AoA See Re See es tema Aer | 55 596, 000 18, 200 3, 045 10, 840 
Ng orete Wemaaiu ne polio oss A dis sieeloaeaaateyS=| 207 2, 691, 000 39, 500 3, 045 12, 990 
PRT E a asian oa ala ae a otarnaiela as cls aioe oceans. | 440 6, 750, 000 85, 200 3, 045 15, 340 
| | 
The time required for hatching under varying water temperatures is 
indicated below: 
ae 
/ | No. of hours | Tempera- 
ae | hatching. | ture. 
PRS ee chine sla eas See b es samme tae eee palakmss ot Gaacatinn Sece cease ok Sle 46 to 56 hours | 51° tio 53° 
MARU sea ae tattle ae aoe Rem cates caine a See ato ee sede ceinte ne seed 15 to 43 hours | 53° to 59° 
JETT SoS Sec BO Bees ae ieee to ood eens SO MOe DORE ee eee tS ie Sen eee ener ee eee as | 59° to 66° 
14 to 27 hours 
Mackerel.—Only three spawning fish were obtained, these by station 
employees, June 14. The yield of eggs was 434,500, which produced 
368,000 fry. Ina temperature of 62° the eggs hatched in 77 hours. 
Sea bass.—Only nine spawning fish were obtained, these being cap- 
tured by station employeeson June 21. Theeggs, numbering 1,332,000, 
hatched in 76 hours in a temperature of 63°, producing 1,189,000 fry. 
In May and June investigations were made for the purpose of acquir- 
ing a more complete knowledge of spawning habits of the menhaden. 
> 
