Berried Females 



From 1975-81, the percentage of females that were bearing eggs 

 ranged from 3.1 - 6.7% (Table 5). However, the 1975-76 values were 

 based on small sample sizes so the 1977-81 values of about 3% are more 

 representative. Twotree had a significantly (p < 0.05) greater proportion 

 of berried females of the three stations (Duncan's Multiple Range 

 Test) . Other investigators in eastern LIS and BIS have reported percentages 

 of berried females ranging from 2.5 - 8.2% (Stewart 1972; Smith 1977; 

 Marcello et al. 1979) . These values differ considerably from those in 

 western LIS, where Smith (1977) reported 27.3% and Briggs and Mushacke 

 (1979) 27.8% of females berried. 



The mean CL of berried females in our study ranged between 79.1 - 

 82.9 mm. Other investigators in our area reported average sizes of 

 berried females from 80.0 - 86.2 mm. The smallest berried female caught 

 during our study (64 mm CL) was smaller than has been reported by most 

 of the area investigators. Female lobsters in LIS and BIS apparently 

 mature at a smaller size than those off the coast of Maine (Krouse 1973; 

 Thomas 1973), the outer shelf (Skud and Perkins 1969), or along the 

 south shore of Long Island (Briggs and Mushacke 1980) . 

 Culls 



The percentage of culled lobsters (missing either one or both 

 claws) has ranged from 9.0 - 17.4% (Table 6). Smith (1977) reported 

 26.4% culled in LIS, east of the Connecticut River, and Briggs and 

 Mushacke (1979) reported culls varying between 7.4 - 22.8% in western 

 LIS. 



Percent culled in wood pots (range 14.0-17.4%) was slightly greater 

 than that observed in wire pots (range 12.1-15.5%) 1978-81. Trap related 



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