343 



from the metropolis of London alone. Now the lobster, as 

 is pretty generally known, is particularly partial to stale 

 fish, and when supplied with fresh food in the tanks of an 

 aquarium, is, unless greatly pressed by hunger, in the habit 

 of burying it until it has arrived at an advanced state of 

 decomposition. It is evident that a very small portion of 

 the fish above referred to that is destroyed daily in this 

 metropolis, and which might be had for the cartage, would 

 suffice to feed many thousand lobsters, and might be con- 

 verted into that highly esteemed crustacean at a consider- 

 able profit to the cultivator. The object of this Paper is 

 not, however, to advocate the cultivation of adult lobsters, 

 but expressly that of establishing hatcheries for the de- 

 velopment of the ova and young, for the purpose of 

 replenishing or restocking our much exhausted fisheries. 



In this direction it may, I think, be predicated that lobster 

 hatching and rearing is hereafter destined to occupy a 

 prominent position in the science of pisciculture, and if con- 

 ducted with any approach to the perseverance, intelligence, 

 and ingenuity that has been already concentrated upon 

 kindred branches of the fishing industry, cannot fail to 

 achieve an equally signal and complete success. 



ADDENDUM. 



It has been represented to the Author of this Paper, since the 

 publication of the first edition in August last, that the addition of 

 illustrations of the metamorphoses of the lobster as herein de- 

 scribed would be both of scientific interest and of utility to those 

 who may elect to carry out the practical culture of these crusta- 

 ceans. A plate, herewith appended, has accordingly been pre- 

 pared from the series of examples grown at Manchester in the 

 year 1875, and which were exhibited at the recent Conference. 



