8-31 



(Saila and Pratt, 1973) . Lobsters are common to both rocky and muddy 

 areas (Saila and Pratt, 1973; Berril and Stewart, 1972). Both these 

 completely different types of habitat provide the lobster with shelter, 

 either by the presence of crevices or ledges to hide in, or in the case 

 of muddy areas, the opportunity to excavate burrows. 



In New Haven Harbor, lobsters were generally collected in low 

 abundance, accounting for 1% by number of the total catch during every 

 year of the program (Table 8-4) . Lobsters are nocturnal, spending much 

 time in their shelters during the day and being most active during the 

 night. Hence, daytime trawls only sample a small percentage of the 

 total population. Lobsters were collected throughout New Haven Harbor: 

 highest abundances occured in the shipping channel in the vicinity of 

 the Harbor Station discharge (Station 8) and in the middle harbor area 

 (Station 11) , with moderate abundances in Morris Cove (Station 13) (Table 8-3) 

 Lobsters were typically collected in lowest abundances in the shoal area 

 between Long Wharf and the City Point sewer outfall (Station 5) , and the 



outer harbor area (Stations 19 and 20) . 



1 



Seasonal patterns of abundance were apparent for lobster popu- 

 lations in New Haven Harbor particularly at Stations 8 and 11 where 

 abundances were highest (Figure 8-8) . Abundances increased during the 

 late spring-early summer (May and June) , declined in July and August, 

 and often increased again in the fall (September-November) . Spring and 

 fall peaks were coincident with moderate water temperatures (8-17°C) and 

 low numbers with extreme temperatures (0-3°C and 19-24°C) . This corre- 

 lates well with known patterns in lobster activity. McLeese and Wilder 

 (1958) have shown that lobster activity increases between 2 and 25°C 

 with a plateau between 10 and 20 °C. Temperatures above 25 °C resulted in 

 substantial decreases in activity and eventually led to complete in- 

 activity. 



Peak abundances in the trawl samples during spring and fall 

 may reflect increased lobster activity during these periods of optimal 

 water temperature. Low abundance during winter and possibly summer may 



