6 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The lobster, though it may be rightfully called the King of the Crustacea, in 

 consider ation of both its size aud strength, its abundance and economic value, had, 

 until recently, been singularly neglected by naturalists. Even its breeding habits 

 were not understood, and so little was our knowledge of many phases of its general 

 biology that I determined from the first to devote ample time to this important subject. 



Eathbun, who brought together what was known concerning the habits of the 

 lobster in a contribution to the Natural History of Useful Aquatic Animals, published 

 in 1887 (155), spoke as follows: 



Although the lobster is one of the most important of our food invertebrates, careful observa- 

 tions regarding its natural history, aud especially its breeding habits, rate of growth, etc., have been 

 strangely neglected. This fact is greatly to be deplored, considering that the lobster has recently 

 become the subject of important legislation by the several States which it inhabits and that its culti- 

 vation by artificial means has been frequently attempted. * The success attending the artificial 

 breeding of several of our food-fishes has inspired the hope that similar methods might succeed with 

 regard to the lobster, aud many persons are now awaiting with interest the results of experiment in that 

 direction. It is very certain, however, that the breeding of lobsters can never be successfully carried 

 on until we have become acquainted with at least the main features of their natural history. The 

 artificial cultivation of animals can only progress through the fulfillment of natural laws, which 

 must be thoroughly understood before they can be properly applied. As it is, however, the would-be 

 experimenters in the matter of lobster breeding must still follow a very uncertain pathway, meeting 

 with numerous failures which previous studies might have arrested (p. 781). 



Many facts relating more particularly to the larval development and reproduction 

 have important economic bearings, and for the benefit of those who have neither the 

 time nor inclination to read the details of this paper I have added a careful summary 

 of the principal observations and conclusions at the end (Chapter xiv). 



Under the subjects discussed in the various chapters I have given all the impor- 

 tant historical references, and have added a full bibliography. There has grown up 

 around every well-known animal like the lobster a considerable mass of popular 

 pseudo-scientific literature, which is of no value either as literature or science, and 

 may well be ignored. 



III. 



The lobster is singularly free from common names, in this country at least. It is 

 rarely confused with any other animal unless it be with the Palinurus of the Pacific 

 Coast aud the West Indies, and with some of the larger species of crayfish, all of which, 

 however, are very distinct, the latter being inhabitants of fresh water. 



Patrick Brown tells us in his " History of Jamaica," published in 1789, that the 

 Palinurus was then commonly called the " horned lobster or great crayfish." The terms 

 rock lobster and spiny lobster are still applied to it in this country and in Europe, 

 but the entire lack of large claws — one of the most striking characteristics of the 

 lobster — its spines, brilliant coloring, and enormous antennae, should prevent the 

 most inobservant person from confusing it with so distinct a form. 



The lobster, as I have explained in Chapters n and in (pp. 55, 82), has acquired 

 numerous epithets while carrying eggs or passing through the various phases of 

 the molt. 



The old generic name Astacus (anray.o- or oaraxoc) was used by Aristotle and 

 the older naturalists down to the present century to embrace the crayfishes and the 

 lobsters proper. Aristotle thus speaks in the fourth book of his History of Animals 



