204 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
facts to substantiate it, each geographical region is more or less 
independent of all others, and not influenced by large and fre- 
quent migrations from them. This division into distinct schools, 
and defined geographical regions, while an arbitrary one, not 
strictly existing in nature, serves to simplify the argument 
which we desire to make, and which is to this effect: That con- 
tinued overfishing in any one region will tend to eventually re- 
duce the stock of lobsters in that region, without the hope of 
its being replenished by early accessions from neighboring reg- 
ions, and that the almost total depletion of that region is, there- 
fore, quite within the bounds of possibility. This is not the 
case with such truly migratory fishes as the mackerel, menhaden 
and herring, and the laws which govern the movements of the 
latter cannot be applied to the lobster. In support of this pro- 
position there are several well-authenticated instances of the 
almost entire extinction of lobsters in what were formerly re- 
garded as exceedingly rich regions, and since lobster-fishing 
has been more or less abandoned in those regions, the abund- 
ance of lobsters has never perceptibly increased. 
Another strong proof of the continued decrease in abundance 
of lobsters has been the gradual decrease in the average size of 
those brought to market. It is not rational to suppose that 
lobsters grow less rapidly now than in former years, or have 
in any way become dwarfed in size. Onthe contrary, it has 
been overfishing, restricted by legislation which protects the 
young, and influenced by the higher prices paid for the larger 
individuals in the fish markets which has caused the greater di- 
minution in the supply of large lobsters. A strict observance 
of existing laws may prevent the total extinction of the species, 
but it cannot maintain the average size of those taken for mar- 
ket much, if any above the limit prescribed by those laws. This 
limit in nearly every instance is, moreover, about the size of 
che young female just beginning to spawn, and, therefore, with 
absolutely no protection for the spawning female, excepting in 
the close season, during which there is but little spawning, it is 
doubtful. whether existing legislation is of much avail. A care- 
ful consideration of all the facts available certainly indicates 
