The average growth per molt (In percent) for males (13.92%) and 

 females (13.89%) is similar to the percentages reported by other 

 researchers working in inshore waters, which ranged from 12.0-17.5% (Wilder 

 1953; Cooper 1970; Ennis 1972; Fair 1977). In deeper offshore waters 

 growth increments are greater: males (18.7%) and females (16.7%) (Cooper 

 and Uzmann 1971). The smaller growth of inshore lobsters is attributed to 

 their relative inactivity (feeding) during the colder months of the year 

 (Cooper and Uzmann 1980). 



Data from our mark and recapture program (1978-83) were used to 

 calculate growth for 250 individuals that molted once between the time of 

 tagging and the time of recapture. A functional regression was fitted to 

 these pre- and post-molt lobster sizes for each sex (Fig. 9). This 

 regression was used because the relationship between the pre- and post-molt 

 sizes are subject to measurement errors or fluctuations in both variables 

 (Jolicoeur 1975). The equations for the growth of males and females are 

 respectively; 



Y=2.821 + (1.097)X, r=.94, n=79 

 Y=3.881 + (1.083)X, r=.93, n=171 



In addition to the tag recovery growth calculations it was also 

 possible to measure the cast shells of lobsters that molted in our holding 

 tanks. These pre- and post-molt lobster sizes are also included in Figure 

 9, The growth of these untagged lobsters is similar to that of tagged 

 lobsters and confirms that accumulating data on long term growth of 

 internally tagged lobsters is representative of the growth of untagged 

 lobsters (Cooper 1970; Ennis 1972). 



Culls 



The percentage of culls, missing either one (11.6%) or both claws 

 (0.8%) in 1983 was 1?.A% of the total catch and was within the range 

 reported for wire pots since 1978 (12.1-15.5%; Keser et al. 1983). Intake 

 had the highest percent of culls (15.3%), compared to JC (14.5%) or TT 

 (8.2%). Legal-sized and sublegal-sized lobsters exhibited similar claw 

 loss (12.3% and 12.4% respectively) as did males (12.5%) and females 



14 



