CL of berried females 80.5 ± 5.9 mm was within the range of previous years 

 (79.1-82.9 mm) (Keser et al. 1983). Over half (52%) of the berried females 

 were of sublegal size, providing further evidence for the small size at 

 which females become mature in our area, relative to more northern and 

 offshore waters where females begin to mature at sizes > 80 mm CL (Krouse 

 1973; Thomas 1973; Skud and Perkins 1969). 



Molting and Growth 



During 1983, we observed molting lobsters throughout our study, with a 

 major peak occurring in June at water temperatures between 13-16°C and a 

 smaller secondary peak in autumn at water temperatures of about 16°C (Fig. 

 8) . This is the second consecutive year that we observed two peaks of 

 molting (NUSCo 1983a). The autumn peak was not evident from 1975 to 1981. 

 Two peaks of molting were also observed by Lund et al. (1973) in LIS and by 

 Russell et al. (1978) in Narragansett Bay. 



30- 



25- 



o 20- 



5- 



Square- Temper a lure 

 Slar= # Mo I I I nc 



_,0 -O-o 



:3-£j- 



May 



AuQ 



MONTH 



Sep 



Oct 



Figure 8. The number of molting lobsters plotted with bottom 

 water temperatures in 1983. 



13 



