116 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [10] 



pounds; a total of 8,137,000 pounds. The enhancement in value of these 

 Lobsters in passing through the large markets was $105,000, making the 

 total value of the Lobster products, as they entered the hands of the 

 smaller wholesale and the retail dealers, $732,000. The prices received 

 by the fishermen for Lobsters vary greatly, according to their size and 

 the season. Canning Lobsters, which average about one pound each, 

 bring about one cent per pound, but those above 10 inches in length 

 are worth from 4 to 7 cents each. 



Legislation relative to the Lobster fishery is entirely under the con- 

 trol of the several interested States, all of which, excepting New Jer- 

 sey, have passed protective laws. The Maine law is the most lax of 

 all, permitting the capture and sale of Lobsters of any size between 

 the 1st of April and the 1st of August, and of Lobsters above 10£ 

 inches in length the balance of the year. The remaining State laws 

 prohibit the taking of Lobsters at any season below a certain size 

 (ranging from 8 to 10 inches), and make other restrictions as to a close 

 time, &c. 



The propagation of the American Lobster by artificial means has 

 been attempted, but so Jar without much success. Unsuccessful at- 

 tempts to transplant the same species to the California coast have also 



been made. 



CRAY-FISH. 



Although Cray -fish (Gamharus and Astacus) are very abundant in 

 American rivers, they are not much used as food. Between thirty-five 

 and forty species are now recognized as inhabiting the United States, 

 but only about lour species are regularly ( sent to market. The 

 principal markets are New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco. 

 New York derives its supplies from the Potomac Kiver, at Washington, 

 and from Milwaukee and Montreal. The Washington species is the 

 Gamharus affinis, and the Milwaukee, the G. virilis. The Cray-fish are 

 received from Washington in the spring, and from Milwaukee and Mon- 

 treal in the summer and fall. The New Orleans species is the G. GlarJcii, 

 which lives in the Mississippi Liver. 



The Astacus nigrescens is occasionally taken to the San Francisco 

 markets, being found abundantly in the vicinity of that city. Cray-fish 

 are mainly used in this country for garnishing fish dishes. The sales 

 for 1880 did not exceed 20,000 pounds, valued at about $3,500. 



ROCK LOBSTER. " 



The Eock Lobster, or salt-water crawfish (Panulirusinterruptus), of the 

 California coast, is related to the Langouste or Spiny Lobster of Europe, 

 and is much esteemed as food. It ranges southward from Santa Bar- 

 bara, and is taken for food at that place, and at Wilmington, Los Ange- 

 los, and San Diego. Large quantities are shipped annually from Santa 

 Barbara to San Francisco. It is captured in large dip-nets, which are 



