68 -_ 



2 40 - 



20 



n^M 



C/l.] UNIT I ^^ UNIT 2 



25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 

 CARAPACE LENGTH 



]_n I 



85 90 95 110 



Figure 12. Size frequency distributions for impinged 

 lobsters at each unit in 1983. 



During 1983, 38.3% of all lobsters impinged were missing one or both 

 claws. Of the total lobsters impinged at Unit 1 31.2% were missing 1 claw, 

 A. 6% were missing both claws and at Unit 2 3A.5% were missing I claw, 9.1% 

 were missing both claws. Sublegal-slzed impinged lobsters exhibited 

 greater claw loss (38.7%) than legal-sized Impinged lobsters (16.7%). The 

 percent of culled lobsters observed in 1983 (Impinged and pot caught) was 

 higher than that observed in 1982. 



Survival of impinged lobsters was greater in 1983 (79.8%) than in 

 previous years (range 65.0-72.2%). No differences in survival were 

 observed between lobsters'^ 70 mm CL and -^ 70 mm CL. The highest mortality 

 of lobsters occurred in August-September when water temperatures were 

 highest; this contrasts with the results of previous years when highest 

 mortality occurred during the peak molting period (May-June) . 



CONCLUSION 



The Millstone Point lobster population remains relatively constant 

 from year to year. The 1983 values for total and legal CPUE, population 

 size and total number caught were lower than the 1982 values but within the 



20 



