THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 739 



more than its market value, his experiments must be counted a failure from a practical stand- 

 point. 



Lobster parks have been established in Europe as well as this country, but here only a few 

 have been attempted. Two parks on the New England coast have been brought specially to our 

 notice. The first, started in 1872, on the coast of Massachusetts, was described as follows, in the 

 Boston Journal of Commerce for 1873 : 



" The attempt to cultivate lobsters for the market was begun about a year ago ; and though 

 no very great results have yet been obtained, the experiment presents every indication of ultimate 

 success. A space of some 30 acres of flats having been inclosed by an embankment, the proprietor 

 of the place conceived the plan of hiring the use of the inclosed water for a lobster pond. The 

 place was originally an arm of the sea, and had a deep channel in the center, so that sufficient 

 depth of water was secured. On building the dike an arched way was made in it, so that the 

 tide could flow out and in at all times. The opening being small, the tide only rises and falls 

 about 3 feet inside. This keeps the inside water deep at all times, and at the same time prevents 

 it from becoming foul. 



" During July and August last summer, 40,000 lobsters, of every age and condition, were let 

 loose in the pond. Many of them were in the soft-shell state, and many were unsalable on account 

 of a lost claw or other mutilation. Food, in the shape of refuse from the fish market, was freely 

 supplied them ; and a gate was put up at the entrance to prevent their escape into the sea. 

 Nothing in particular happened for several months ; and the enterprising owner arranged nets 

 for eels and other fish, which he caught in the pond in large quantities during the fall and winter. 



" When the ice had covered the pond, holes were cut and the lobster traps were put down. 

 Good sizable hard-shell lobsters were at once caught, and two things were proved : first, the 

 water was deep and pure enough to keep the fish alive, and secondly, the fish were healthy, for 

 they had taken their hardened shells, in the usual manner, and new claws had grown in the place 

 of those lost. In the spring, eels, perch, and a great many other kinds of fish were taken from the 

 pond in liberal quantities, and now that the spawning season is well advanced, the farm has 

 reached its final and most critical stage. Some 15,000 good, marketable lobsters have been taken 

 out and sold. Every one was a male fish, as the female fish were all returned to the water for 

 breeding purposes. The spawn is now on its last stage and in a few weeks, if all goes well, some 

 millions of young lobsters will swarm in the pond. The eggs are already so far advanced that the 

 young fry can be seen through the transparent shells, and only one thing will prevent them from 

 coming to maturity. The question is, Can the young lobsters defend themselves from the fish in 

 the pond? It is impossible to keep other fish out, and the lobsters must take their chances. 

 Everything is favorable so far. The bottom is stony and gravelly. There are plenty of hiding 

 places, such as the young fish seek to hide in, and the water is always deep and fresh. 



"The proprietor is a keen, far-sighted man, well educated, and thoroughly in love with his 

 business. He has entire confidence in the success of his venture, and will make it succeed if 

 anybody can. From a personal inspection of the lobster farm, we are inclined to think the project 

 destined to prove a financial success. The fish already sold are of excellent quality, and have 

 won a good name in the market. The number of lobsters that can live in the pond is practically 

 countless. If one-eighth of the young fish live, a couple of years will see the place stocked with 

 millions of salable lobsters. The expense is small the rent, the food (which may be obtained for 

 the asking), and the labor of catching and preparing for market being the whole of it. The 

 experiment is a very important one. If it succeeds it will introduce an entirely new system of 

 lobster fishing, and do much to prevent the destruction of the natural supply. Nor is this all, for 



