736 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Abstract of the State laws. 



MAINE. Law of 1879 : prohibits the canning and preserving of lobsters and the capture and 

 sale of individuals under 10 inches long, between August 1 and April 1. No restrictions placed 

 upon the fishery between April 1 and August 1. 



Revision of 1883 : makes a close time from August 15 to November 15, and prohibits the cap- 

 ture and sale of females with spawn and lobsters under 9 inches long, from April 1 to August 1. 



Revision of 1885: close time from August 15 to October 1, except for personal use of fishermen. 

 Prohibits canning from July 15 to April 1, the capture ot females with spawn from October 1 to 

 August 15, and of lobsters under 10 inches long from October 1 to April 1. The taking of all 

 lobsters over 9 inches long, excepting females with spawn, is permitted during the canning season. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. In force since 1881 : close time from August 15 to October 15, and a limit 

 of 10 inches in length remainder of year. Destruction of females with spawn prohibited during 

 entire year. 



MASSACHUSETTS. In force since 1880: close time from June 20 to September 20, and a limit 

 of 10 inches in length during remainder of year; capture and sale of females with eggs prohib- 

 ited during July. Also several laws of local application. 



Revision of 188"2: capture and sale of females with spawn prohibited during July. 



RHODE ISLAND. Law of 1882: no lobsters less than 10 inches long can be caught and sold. 

 The privileges of fishing are restricted to residents of the State. 



CONNECTICUT. Law of 1878: the capture of lobsters less than inches in length is prohib- 

 ited during the entire year and of females with spawn from July 1 to July 15. 



NEW YORK. Law of 1880: prohibits the sale and capture of lobsters less than 10 inches in 

 lengtli. 



9. THE CULTIVATION AND TRANSPLANTING OF LOBSTERS. 



CULTIVATION. The artificial breeding of lobsters has been rarely iittempted either in this 

 country or in Europe, and in no instance are we aware of its having been productive of satisfac- 

 tory practical results. There are so many difficulties to overcome in an undertaking of this char- 

 acter, and the breeding habits of lobsters are yet so imperfectly understood, that it is not surpris- 

 ing greater progress has not been made in materially aiding the increase in supplies by artificial 

 culture, as in the case of the oyster and of many of our true fishes. That further study and per- 

 sistent efforts may yet afford us the means of accomplishing so desirable an object is very probable 

 and is sincerely to be hoped for, in view of the apparent great decrease in the abundance of lob- 

 sters on many portions of our Atlantic coast.* 



NORWAY. The same problem has taxed the ingenuity of European fish-cnlturists in those 

 countries where the European lobster is an important article of trade, and especially has this 

 been the case in Norway, where a marked decrease in the supplies of that species has been 

 evident for some time. The most noteworthy of the Norwegian experiments began in 1873, but 

 of their final results we have been unable to obtain any definite information. The following account 

 was published in 1875 : 



"Several men in the district of Stavanger, viz, Mr. Lorange, a civil engineer, Mr. Olsen, a 

 teacher, and two merchants, Messrs. Andr. Hansen and H. Hansen, in 1873, united with a view to 



" For recent experiments in lobster culture by the United States Fish Commission, which have been partially 

 successful, see the following reports : Notes on Lobster Culture (Experiments by the United States Fish Commission 

 in 1885). By Richard Rnthbun. Bulletin United States Fish Commission, Vol. VI, p. 17, 1886. 



Hatching, rearing, and transplanting lobsters (Experiments at Wood's Roll Station). By John A. Ryder. 

 Science, Vol. VII, No. 175 (June 11, 1886), pp. 517-519. 



