r.>S Thirl ij-sirlh Ainiudl Mcctiinj 



eiit timo it Ims hccn very difficult to secure such a uiiifonn law 

 tlirouo-lioui all the stales. For the reason, first, that the (ishcnm'ii 

 are notoriously selfish in the matter, and openly say, "As soon 

 as file lobster is gone, we will simply turn to something else; 

 we want all there is in the lohster business at the present fimi', 

 and never mind the future." The lobster dealers have organized 

 on the basis of using the large lobsters, and all their mechanism 

 is adapted for present methods, and they look asl>ance on any 

 change. The present is all right for them, and they are not 

 worrying about the future. With the development of transpor- 

 tation facilities, they are getting all the lobsters they care to 

 sell, and they are able now, to jiraetieally handle the market as 

 they think best. 



Eelative to the enforcement of such a law, it has on its face 

 the very difficult proposition of a size limit on one side and a 

 size limit on the other, so that opponents say, if it is difficult 

 now to enforce the law above or below ten and one-half inches, 

 it will be twice as hard to enforce it with a double size measure. 

 To obviate that we have made some experiments, in which we 

 found that a trap with a ring nine and one-quarter inches in- 

 side diameter, will shut out practically all the eleven inch lob- 

 sters, and will aljsolutely or practically prevent the catching of 

 the largest lobsters, those that are most valuable for reproduc- 

 tive purposes; and the plan is to have those pots examined and 

 marked and sealed, and it Avill be illegal to have pots in the pos- 

 session of fishermen, or others different from those specified. 

 Every pot which is made, must conform to the legal specifica- 

 tions, and if they do not, they can be destroyed on the spot by the 

 inspector. That makes it much more easy to inspect the pots, 

 that is, to inspect the lobsters; they will handle the lobster auto- 

 matically. 



jSTow, it seems to me that such a law. ])arti(idarly if it is a 

 uniform law throughout the states and provinces, would b(^ ol' 

 great value to the lobster, owing to the fact thai it would permit 

 the very best individuals to breed. At present a large ])oi-tion of 

 our eggs are taken from immature individuals. \A'e ])racticallv 

 put a premium upon the taking and destruction of the very Ijest 

 breeders, and anyone who is engageil in hreeding stock, will 



