EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING. Ig 
for the extraction of the tail, together with the legs and bony 
structure of the body. 
Next comes the interesting, but apparently difficult operation 
of drawing the large claws through the small joints, by which 
they are connected to the body or trunk, but this is easily ac- 
complished by a beautiful yet simple provision of nature, viz.: 
the decay of a portion of the shell, thereby forming a larger 
aperture. The place is indicated by an oval spot, seen on the 
inside of the first joint of the arm. 
This done, the animal is free from its shell and bony struc- 
ture; for let me state, the bones assisting in the working of joints 
are also withdrawn from the flesh, leaving him helpless, and as 
if dead, the beating of the heart being the only visible sign of 
life. Ina few days, however, the new shell is hard enough to 
permit the seeking of food, which is done with great eager- 
ness. 
But more especially to the result of this process would I call 
your attention. 
From actual observation, I have found that a lobster measur- 
ing ten and one-half inches in length will, after shedding, have 
increased to twelve inches; but if we make the comparison in 
weight, it may be better understood ; for instance, a lobster of 
ten and one-half inches will weigh one and a quarter pounds, 
while one of twelve inches, on an average of two and one-half 
pounds, or double its former weight, which will add to its mar- 
ket value in the same proportien, or too per cent. Nowif a 
lobster sheds his shell once a year, which is approximately true, 
I think that it shows that by establishing a reasonable standard 
of length (which must not be so high that it would prohibit fish- 
ing, neither so low that a sufficient age for reproduction may 
not have been attained), we may, in time, get back that which 
we have so foolishly sacrificed. 
Lobsters of a less length than ten and one-half inches have 
been found, bearing eggs, but by careful observation and inquiry 
I have found the exceptions to be very rare; therefore this stand- 
ard could not be safely fixed under that length, but should, on 
the contrary, be as much above it as possible, still not so high at 
first as to cause hardship to the fishermen, while from time to 
