LOBSTERS. 83 



could not get out but its prison was fairly large. The 

 fishermen used to have a look at it now and again, and they 

 say it lived there for about 20 years. 



The average weight of a full grown lobster is said to be from 

 8 to 121bs. avoir., and I exhibit the photo of a lobster caught 

 at Portland by Mr. T. Lewis on August 7th, 1905, 

 which weighed lOlb., measured 2ft. 5 Jin. from tip of claw to 

 end of tail ; girth of body, 1ft. llin., and of claw 11 Jin. 

 Herrick gives records of many lobster-giants that have been 

 caught in Europe and America, and says " the greatest size 

 attained by lobsters is about 25 pounds." This was a male. 

 On an average female lobsters run lighter. 



The economic value of the lobster fishery in this country 

 (England and Wales only) can be seen from the following 

 figures : In 1907 (the last year for which our slow-moving 

 Government Department has yet issued statistics) the total 

 number reported to them as having been landed was 495,326, 

 and the value 23,800 ; of which a total of 349,700 of a value 

 of 16,781 were officially reported as having been landed on 

 the South coast ; so that more than half the number, and half 

 the value of all the lobsters caught in England and Wales, 

 are captured on our southern shores ; but, as all know, who 

 have any acquaintance with the manner and channels through 

 wilich these figures are reported to the Government, if the 

 actual number was obtainable the figures would be consider- 

 ably augmented. Of those landed on our southern coasts about 

 11,500 worth are captured in our Dorset waters annually, 

 and give employment to about 130 men regularly all the 

 year round, and say 90 other men who fish for lobsters part 

 of the year only. The figures I have given for Dorset differ 

 considerably from those given in the Government statistics, 

 but I am convinced mine are approximately correct, as they 

 were gathered with great care by the Chief Fishery Officer 

 of the Southern Sea Fishery District (which embraces Dorset) 

 and have been confirmed by myself. 



In July last year three boats at Swanage, each with two men 

 for six succeeding days,caught an average of 401b. per boat per 



