SPAWNING HABITS OF THE SPINY LOBSTER 



(PANULIRUS ARGUS), WITH NOTES 



ON ARTIFICIAL HATCHING 



By D. R. Crawford 



Scientific Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 

 Washington, D. C. 



Since the spawning act among the larger crustaceans has 

 been observed so infrequently, any additional information is 

 of interest and value. Herrick records no direct observation 

 of the spawning act of Homariis americaniis. Scott records 

 one observation on the spawning of the European lobster, 

 llomarus gammarus* Although the available literature has 

 been searched, no record of the direct observation of the 

 spawning of the blue crab or spiny lobster has been found. 



The difficulties surrounding observations of this sort are 

 numerous and often insurmountable, and the one who has an 

 opportunity to observe the spawning act is indeed fortunate. 

 It seems that crustaceans rarely spawn in captivity unless they 

 are captured just prior to the time when spawning would have 

 occurred under natural conditions. Close confinement often 

 causes abnormal conditions to which the crustacean does not 

 become adapted. It is pointed out that the spiny lobster, 

 which was observed in this case, was confined but one day be- 

 fore the act of spawning took place. 



A brief review of the external features of the anatomy 

 which are peculiar to the female will be helpful in under- 

 standing what is to follow. 



The fifth claw of the female, which differs from that of 

 the male, is considerably modified. At the articulation of the 

 dactyl with the propodus, there is a small chela which is com- 

 posed of spur-like extensions of the propodus and dactyl. The 

 inner surfaces of this chela are concave and the rims are com- 



*Report for 1902 on the Lancashire and Sea Fisheries Laboratory at University 

 College, Liverpool, and the Sea Fishery Hatchery at Piel, pp. 20-27. Liverpool, 1902. 



