72(J REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



LOBSTERS (HOMARUS AMERICANUS). 



On May 29, 1886, 1 brought from the United States hatching station 

 at Wood's Holl, Mass., 5,000 young lobsters which had been hatched 

 there and also 50,000 lobster eggs. The eggs were all dead on arrival 

 at the Cold Spring Harbor hatchery, but the young lobsters were in very 

 good condition. They were placed in small aquariums and fed on soft 

 clams (Mya arenaria), and did very well for a few days until they be- 

 gan to molt, when as soon as one little fellow cast his shell his brethren 

 would devour him. I think that Prof. J. A. Ryder, who hatched these 

 lobsters, told me they had molted twice before and that they were then 

 between two and three weeks old. After losing perhaps two hundred 

 of them I decided to plant them, and did so on June 5, six days after 

 receiving them, off Rocky Point in Cold Spring Harbor. When planted 

 the young were about five-sixteeuths of an inch iu length. There have 

 been no lobsters in this harbor for a number of years, and in Septem- 

 ber, 1886, Capt. S. A. Walters and Capt. P>uuce each caught young 

 lobsters while working on their oyster-beds, which they informed me 

 measured about an inch and a half in length, but I have been uuable 

 to secure specimens. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



As before stated the grounds are leased by the New York Fish Com- 

 mission, and much work was done for that commission which is not 

 here reported. The codfish work mentioned was done at the expense 

 of the State. The building used for a hatchery is an old mill nearly 

 ready to tumble down and not worth repairing. A bill has been intro- 

 duced into the New York legislature to appropriate $5,000 for the 

 purpose of building a new hatchery, and at present writing (May, 1887) 

 it has passed the assem bly, and there is every reason to hope that it 

 will become a law.* 



* Since the above was written, the following law has been passed (chapter 613, 

 Laws of New York) : 



"An act to provide for the erection of a fish-hatchery at Cold Spring Harbor, and 

 making an appropriation therefor. Passed June 18, 1887, three-fifths being present. 



"The People of the State of New York, represented in the seuate and assembly, do 

 enact as follows : 



"Section 1. There shall be appropriated from any funds in the treasury of the 

 State, not otherwise appropriated, for a new hatchery building and improvement of 

 grounds at the Cold Spring Harbor station of the commissioners of fisheries, $5,000, 

 or so much thereof as shall be necessary, to be expended under the direction of the 

 commissioners of fisheries on vouchers to be approved by the comptroller ; but no 

 money shall be paid out of the appropriation till a lease of the lauds and water rights 

 now occupied for such hatchery shall be executed to the State, rent free, from the 

 j)wner, for such period as the same may be occupied as a public hatchery, which lease, 

 when accepted by the commissioners, shall be filed in the office of the secretary of 

 state." 



Such a lease was given by the owner, Mr. John D. Jones, and the building is now 

 (October 26, 1887) in process of erection. The contract requires its completion by 

 January 1, 1888, which will be in time for the salmon work of that year. In the 

 mean time a small building outside the grounds is being used for trout and other fishes. 



