162 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



thirty years' experience about Heligoland, had obtained only three lobsters from 3 to 

 5 cm. long. (61, p. 285.) 



It is evident that the long larval period of the lobster is an important means of 

 securing a transport from the shore and wide distribution up and down the coast by 

 means of the tides and ocean currents. As I shall point out in another place, this 

 transportation is of the utmost importance to the larva?, since it is in the bays and 

 landlocked channels, where the competition among surface-feeding animals is keenest 

 and destruction of life by animate and inanimate foes by far the greatest. 



In consequence of the facts just mentioned, it must often happen that the young 

 lobster settles to the bottom in depths much exceeding 100 fathoms. What does the 

 little animal do on reaching its new abode? It probably begins to travel toward the 

 shore, slowly at first but more rapidly when, in the course of six or eight weeks, it has 

 become 1^ to li inches long. Meantime it hides in the crevices of the rocks or conceals 

 itself under stones whenever danger approaches. Having reached the shore, it estab- 

 lishes itself iu shallow water at the mouth of some estuary or river on the rocky sides 

 of a bay. It lives under stones, or in stone piles, the tops of which are sometimes left 

 bare at extremely low tides. It can then be found by turning over stones in much 

 exposed situations, often where the water is not over 1 or 2 inches deep, but where 

 at the flood there may be from 3 to 5 feet of water or even more. Sometimes several 

 small lobsters are seen lying under one rock at the same time. While the lobster 

 is very small, 1£ to 2J inches long, it crawls down deep into the piles of loose stones 

 where no enemy can reach it. After attaining a greater length — of 3 or 4 inches — the 

 young lobster begins to leave the rock piles and digs for itself a little cave under a 

 stone. From this protection it stealthily crawls forth in search of its prey, and quickly 

 returns when an enemy appears. It may take up its abode in the winding chamber of 

 a deserted couch shell, or in any hole or niche which promises temporary security. 



As the lobster increases in size it grows bolder and retires farther from the shore, 

 although it never loses its instinct for digging and never abandons the usual habit of 

 concealing itself under stones when the necessity arises. 



Little is known about the habits of young lobsters in winter, but it is evident 

 that they iriust leave the rock piles as soon as ice begins to form, perhaps as early as 

 December in eastern Maine, and move out, as the adults do, into deeper water. The 

 casting up of young lobsters on the beach at Woods Hole, in the latter part of January 

 (seep. 165), proves that they sometimes remain in shallow water even at this season. 



The colors of the young lobsters at the time they are from 1£ to 2 inches or some- 

 what more in length are very different from those of the adult. This may be seen by 

 comparing figures 39 aud 22, which represent, respectively, a young male 1.8 inches 

 long (see No. 22, table 33) aud an adult male 10 inches in length. In the young 

 lobster the general cast of color is a russet or light reddish-brown, which is most pro- 

 nounced on the sides of the body and under surface of the large claws. The borders 

 of the carapace and segments of the body and legs are tinged with light Prussian blue. 

 The upper parts of the body aud appendages, especially the first pair of chelipeds, are 

 spattered and marbled with a dull-bluish pigment. The terga of the abdomen have 

 often a fine edging of dull bluish-black. 



I am fortunate in being able to present a series of plates to illustrate the adoles- 

 cent as well as the adult stages of the lobster. The original photographs 1 are in many 

 cases so perfect that with the aid of a hand lens the finest details in the sculpturing 

 1 These were made by the Edmondson Company, of Cleveland, Ohio. 



