18 FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
compared with those taken in former years, might properly be 
prefaced by a statement of the fact that not as many lobsters are 
consumed now as formerly. A tew years ago fifty or sixty traps 
per man was 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 ef- 
forts to keep up the supply, even if size and quality are disre- 
garded. 
It may be fairly estimated that from twenty-eight to thirty 
millions of lobsters are taken annually off the coast of New 
England, 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 supply 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, this 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 they will 
become in the future, and as a natural consequence, if we con- 
tinue indiscriminate fishing, practical extermination must fol- 
low. This ground I am anxious to maintain, and wish to have 
some remedy applied to obviate the evil; still, however, per- 
mitting a partial supply. 
Before going further, I would here give you a brief descrip- 
tion of the process by which a lobster discards its old shell and 
assumes a new one. 
Having grown to fill the old shell, a new one begins to form 
under it, at first no more than a film, which, gradually thicken- 
ing, becomes in appearance not unlike India rubber. 
The line seen running lengthwise of a lobster’s back indi- 
cates the opening point which, when opened, room is provided 
