66 



From these observations the follow "ng general conclusions 

 among others may be deduced. 



Males are never entirely absent throughout the year and, 

 contrary to what has been generally accepted, are fairly 

 abundant in the months October to February. The months 

 December to April are those in w^hich they are fewest. There 

 is a sudden increase in June, and a gradual falling off with 

 fluctuations up to November. Males with soft new shell are 

 found in November, December and January up to the 24th 

 February, but only one (in November) with soft old shell, 

 which is preparatory to moulting. Moulting is generally 

 stated to take place in deep water, but it would appear from 

 this that it also occurs, to some extent, in shallow water. 

 Males in hard new shell, indicating a stage later than that of 

 the soft new shell, were found in January, February, April and 

 May. With regard to size there is an increase in larger forms 

 in the winter months April-September. 



The most striking feature in the variation in number of 

 females is the sudden increase in June and July, and this is 

 quite in keeping with the statement of fishermen that females 

 are very abundant in this month. The}^ reach their maximum 

 in July, whereas the maximum number of males is in June. 

 There is a decided falling off in August both in males and 

 females. The largest females occur in May to August. The 

 period at which mature males and females occur together is in 

 June and July, and copulation probably takes place at this 

 time. This is confirmed by the observation made on the craw- 

 fish kept at the Marine Laboratory at St James, when it was 

 found that copulation followed shortly after moulting, and 

 spawning occurred chiefly in these months. We may, there- 

 fore, be justified in concluding that in June and July males 

 and females come together in the shallow^ water (about 6 

 fathoms) for reproduction. 



The first females in berry were caught on the 23rd Septem- 

 ber, and they continued to be procured throughout the summer 

 months till the 21st Januar}^ 



3. In making the foregoing experimental haul, the oppor- 

 tunity was taken to carr}^ out a series of townettings with a 

 view to procuring further information as to the occurrence 

 and habits of the young stages of the crawfish. These results, 

 arranged in tabulated form, are as follows : — 



