166 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
less than it was ten and twenty years ago, and that much more than 
half are now under the legal limit of 104 inches prescribed by the 
Massachusetts fishery regulations. The search for egg lobsters has 
also disclosed the fact that the abundance of lobsters is still rapidly 
decreasing on this coast. During the season of 1890, 59 lobsters with 
dead eggs were taken, and among the females Snare 10 inches long 
caught in this vicinity there was an average of only about 1 with 
spawn to 12 without spawn. In November, 1890, with 175 traps 
set, the catch averaged 2 lobsters, measuring 10$ imciliea and over to 
each trap per day. There was also an average of 1 egg lobster 
to every 7 lobsters taken. In February, 1891, 5 traps averaged 1 
104-inch lobster and 10 small lobsters per day. In April, 1891, 400 
traps set in the bay and sound averaged about 100 lobsters per day, 
measuring 104 inches and over, and about 10 egg lobsters. In May 
the average per day was 1 large lobster to every 2 traps. Small lob- 
sters were also less abundant than in previous years. At Monomoy, 
where lobsters were formerly very common within a mile of the point, 
the fishermen are now required to go nearly to the Nantucket shore 
to set their traps. The catch in 1890 was only about half that of the 
previous year. 
During October and November, 1890, Mr. Edwards made some interest- 
ing observations on the fall molting of lobsters which indicate that the 
habit of shedding at this season is more common than has generally been 
supposed. Hight specimens were measured, and the increase in size in 
each instance, ranging from one-half to 15 inches, was found to be 
as follows: From 5 to 6 inches, from 54 to 64 inches, from 73$ to 8 
inches, from 73 to 84 inches, from 8 to 9 inches, from 84 to 94 inches, 
from 9 to 104 inches, and from 11 to 12 inches. The rate of growth 
seems, therefore, to vary considerably, even among individuals of ap- 
pe icanately the same size. 
In the fall of 1890 Mr. I°. N. Barrett, editor of the American Grocer, 
New York, called the attention of the Commissioner to the fact that in 
the eanned-lobster trade cans were often found in which the contents 
had turned black and were unfit for eating. This circumstance had 
created considerable prejudice against this product, especially in the 
foreign markets. Many causes had been assigned for the phenomenon, 
none of which, however, were based upon an investigation of the 
actual condition of the spoiled goods. Several cans ate the 
blackened lobsters were sent to Washington, and were placed by the 
Commissioner in the hands of Dr, William Gray, microscopist of the 
Army Medical Museum, for analysis. Dr. Gray’s studies upon the 
subject have not yet been completed, but in the discolored patches of 
muscular tissue he has found a species of bacillus apparently unde- 
seribed, which is probably responsible for the changes observed in the 
cor and condition of this product. 
