THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 729 



regulating the size of those offered for sale was what was wanted, and it appears to be the general 

 wish of those whom we have met that some law might be made to prohibit the exposing for sale 

 of any lobster not of a certain length. 



" We therefore recommend that a committee be appointed to take charge of the matter, and 

 to appear before the legislature or some committee thereof, to use their best efforts to have such 

 a law passed as may seem best to them to prevent the taking or offering for sale, or being in 

 possession of, any lobsters less than 11 inches in length. 



" We also recommend that the president of this association be requested to correspond with 

 the fish commissioners of the State of Maine upon the subject." 



VIEWS OP ME. S. M. JOHNSON, OF BOSTON. A few years later Mr. S. M. Johnson, of 

 Boston, discussed the subject of protection in an address before the American Fish-Cultural Asso- 

 ciation, from which we abstract the following: 



"This, like all questions having for their object the best method for economizing and preserv- 

 ing our supply of sea food, has become not only of great interest, but of great importance ; and the 

 discussion of such topics is looked upon with increasing interest from year to year, as the necessity 

 for a law in relation to them becomes more apparent. With these facts in view, I esteem it a privi- 

 lege to accept the invitation of this association to consider briefly the causes of a very apparent 

 decrease in the size of lobsters offered for sale in our markets. 



" The first question seems to be, What relation the supply bears to the demand, and the abil- 

 ity of the former to meet the latter, in the future as well as the present. 



" In looking for a reasonable solution of this problem, an inquiry concerning the means taken 

 to provide the supply now, as compared with those taken in former years, might properly be pref- 

 aced by a statement of the fact that not as many lobsters are. consumed now as formerly. A few 

 years ago fifty or sixty traps per man were considered a good number, while at the present time 

 from seventy-five to ninety are used, and even with this addition it requires twice the number of 

 men to catch the same amount of lobsters. These facts seem to show the danger of depletion in 

 our efforts to keep up the supply, even if size and quality are disregarded. 



" It may be fairly estimated that from 28,000,000 to 30,000,000 of lobsters are taken annually 

 off the coast of New Eng land, aggregating in weight not far from 15,000 tons. These figures may 

 be considered only important here when taken in connection with the ability of the source of sup- 

 ply to furnish this amount without endangering its perpetuity. This calamity, however, I think 

 most likely to ensue unless some proper restrictions are enforced, limiting this continual drain. 

 When we compare the lobsters seen in the market to-day with those of former years, the danger 

 becomes still more evident; and if this decrease in size goes on, the industry will, in a short time, 

 become of little or no importance. 



"The reply to the oft-repeated question, Why do we not get larger lobsters? must be, We 

 catch them faster than they can grow; the smaller the lobsters we retain, the smaller will they 

 become in the future, and, as a natural consequence, if we continue indiscriminate fishing, practi- 

 cal extermination must follow. This ground I am anxious to maintain, and wish to have some 

 remedy applied to obviate the evil, still, however, permitting a partial supply. * * * 



" From actual observation I have found that a lobster measuring 10 inches in length will, after 

 shedding, have increased to 12 inches ; but if we make the comparison in weight, it may be better 

 understood. For instance, a lobster of 10J inches will weigh 1 J pounds, while one of 12 inches, on 

 an average, 2 pounds, or double its former weight, which will add to its market value in the 

 same proportion, or 100 per cent. Now, if a lobster sheds its shell once a year, which is approxi- 

 mately true, I think, it shows that by establishing a reasonable standard of length (which must not 



