PROTECTING THE LOBSTER 

 By Francis H. Herrick 



The true condition of the lobster fishery cannot be 

 determined from reports upon single regions or for single 

 years. When long periods are considered the statistics as a 

 whole present the clearest evidence of decline. In deciding 

 the question of actual increase or decrease in the lobster, 

 certain variables must be duly considered; yet, it is these 

 highly important variable factors which are apt to be ne- 

 glected. To state that more lobsters were captured one season 

 than another, without a knowledge of the conditions under 

 which these catches were made, affords no reliable basis for 

 determining the true state of the fishery. We need to know 

 also the numbers of men engaged, and of traps used, as well 

 as the character of the areas fished, and the size of the 

 animals caught. 



The lobster fisheries of Canada, next to those of the cod- 

 fish and salmon, are most valuable to the Dominion, and from 

 1869 to 1906 inclusive yielded a grand total of $83,291,553. 

 In 1897 the product of this industry was estimated at 

 23,721,554 pounds, with a value of $3,485,265. In 1906, 

 ten years later, in spite of rising prices, the yield had dropped 

 to 20,241,764 pounds, but though less than at the earlier 

 time by nearly three and one half million pounds, this 

 quantity had nearly the same value, namely, $3,422,927. 

 The greatest yield of this fishery is recorded for the years 

 1885 to 1887, in 1886 reaching approximately 34,000,000 

 pounds, these quantities in all cases representing the meat 

 preserved in cans, and the animals shipped alive. 



This great fishery has much to hope for in propagative 

 measures of the right sort, and all persons the world over 

 who like lobsters should welcome every sign of its actual 

 increase. At the same time we should wish to know the 

 truth of the matter, and a long memory is necessary. 



