between 67.9 and 70.5 mm. He considered the modal size of his catch (70 

 mm CL) to be the size at which lobsters are less apt to escape the 

 traps; using the same reasoning, we believe lobsters in our study are 

 vulnerable to the wire pots at 70 mm CL and to the wood pots at about 76 

 mm CL. 



In addition to capturing larger numbers of individuals (to improve 

 population estimates) the use of wire pots was also economically advan- 

 tagous. Wire pots were more easily hauled, required less maintenance, 

 and were capable of fishing effectively up to 3 years. Wood pots required 

 more ballast, travelled through the water slowly thus require more 

 effort to haul, and could only be fished for one season ( < 1 yr) because 

 of wood borer attack. 



CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

 Results indicated that the local lobster population was highly 

 exploited, with the commercial and recreational catch (_> 81 mm CL) 

 being highly dependent on the prerecruit size class. The seasonal 

 variation in catch was shown to be a function of molting patterns and 

 changes in catchability, induced by the seasonal change in water tempera- 

 ture. Based on these findings and the fact that the present thermal 

 plume does not reach the bottom sediments at any station, adverse effects 

 on the local lobster population during the operation of Units 1 and 2 

 have not been observed. However, no long-term preoperational population 

 data were collected prior to Unit 1 and 2 start up, therefore, no conclusive 

 statements as to the impacts of Units 1 and 2 can be made in regard to 

 lobster population characteristics prior to their operation. Since 

 lobsters require 4 years of growth before they are vulnerable to our 



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