790 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



certain conditions the males and females may live more or less apart from one another, but 

 the observations of scientific men indicate that this separation is not long continued, if it 

 occurs at all. 



Mr. S. M. Johnson, of Boston, has recently assured us that the great preponderance of 

 females still holds true in the case of the Cape Cod region. Of the supplies received from there 

 at Boston, during the summer months, he feels certain, from long-continued observations, that 

 nearly if not quite ninety per cent, are females, and about seven-eighths of these bear spawn 

 externally. The section of coast from which these Lobsters are obtained extends along the outer 

 side of Cape Cod, from off Highland Light to Wood End Light. The Lobsters examined at 

 Provincetown, by Prof. S. I. Smith, in 1872, may have come from the bay side of Cape Cod, whence 

 Provincetown is supposed to receive its supplies for home consumption. The females may resort 

 to the shallow waters of the outer side of the cape to spawn during the season when the fishery 

 is carried on there, and this fact, if true, would readily account for their great abundance in that 

 region, as has been noticed for so long a time. The males and females approach and recede from 

 the shore together in the fall and spring. 



WINTER HABITS. Fishermen generally agree that Lobsters do not trap as readily in the 

 winter as in the summer, even though the pots are set on what are supposed to be their winter 

 grounds. The reason assigned for this is that they are not as eager for food nor as active in 

 their movements in cold weather as in warm weather. This may be true to a great extent, but 

 we think it is equally probable that they are scattered over broader areas in the winter, 

 and their haunts are not as easily found. Evidence in proof of this idea has been recently 

 furnished us by a prominent Eastern dealer, who has kept large quantities of Lobsters in confine- 

 ment for the winter trade. The bottom of the area given up to their keeping is very muddy, and 

 the surface of the water sometimes freezes over to a depth of twenty -two inches. On the 

 approach of cold weather the Lobsters bury themselves in the mud, leaving only the long 

 antenna, the eyes, the tips of the claws, and perhaps a small portion of the front of the carapax, 

 projecting above it. Over some parts of the inclosure the water is so shallow that the exposed 

 ap|>endages can be readily seen from the surface. In these positions the Lobsters lie, presumably 

 all winter, unless disturbed, but whether or not they feed regularly has not been observed. If, 

 however, a hoop-net, properly baited, is lowered in front of them, they are not slow to enter it, 

 plainly indicating that they are still attracted by the bait, and it is just the same even after the 

 surface of the water has become a sheet of ice. As the ice breaks up toward spring, and after- 

 ward, while the drift ice still remains in this area, the Lobster.s become more timid and cannot be 

 caught. They also seem to re easily frightened at loud noises, and perhaps retire deeper into the 

 mud, for bait appears to have no attraction for them at such times. It is not possible, however, 

 that they could be influenced in this manner in deeper water. 



It is a question which may never be definitely decided, whether Lobsters bury themselves in 

 the same manner in deep water as near shore. The temperature there would undoubtedly remain 

 more favorable to them than in shallow water, but many of those caught in the pots in winter are 

 core or less covered with mud. 



MOVEMENTS. Lobsters hold quite closely to the bottom and seldom leave it, unless it may 

 be to escape an enemy, when they have been seen to execute a sort of swimming movement 

 backward, by means of their tail, darting up from the bottom, but quickly settling down again. 

 In moving about, they seem to skim over the bottom, using their four posterior pairs of feet, 

 the anterior pair, or big claws, being held rigidly out in front of them, with the tips pointing 

 inward and not far apart. The tail is also spread out and well expanded at the same time. The 



