198 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



parison with the measurements of lobsters 9 and 1 1 shows that it must have been sub- 

 stantially correct. It will be seen that this animal approaches closely the 31-pounder 

 from New Jersey, the lengths for the carapace being 10 inches (allowing for i inch of 

 the rostrum missing) and 10.28 inches, respectively, and the girth of the crusher claw 

 16.87, as opposed to 17.68 inches. 



After taking account of the facts so far as ascertainable at present, my former state- 

 ments regarding the weights of giant lobsters are revised to the following effect; the 

 greatest known living weight of the American lobster is 34 pounds and that of the 

 European lobster about 25 pounds. (See note, p. 194.) Altogether six or seven individ- 

 uals of the American species weighing 25 pounds or more are known to have been 

 caught on the Atlantic coast during the last 70 years. 



The lobster (no. 12, table i) which was seen by Cobb at Peak Island, Maine, in 

 1899, is said to have measured 44 inches with claws extended in front of the head. It 

 was caught off Monhegan Island, Maine, and exhibited about the country by fishermen 

 of that region. If this measure was correct, it would correspond to a body length of 

 23 to 24 inches and a corresponding weight of upward of 32 pounds, thus being one of 

 the largest lobsters on record. The ratio of body length to the total length with extended 

 claws varies greatly in small and large lobsters, being as high as 72 per cent in a female 

 of 3 inches and 38 per cent in a male of 10.37 inches, while in the big Belfast lobster 

 (no. 6) this ratio is somewhat under 55 per cent. On the other hand the ratio of cara- 

 pace length to total body length for the average 10.5-inch lobster, as applied in the 

 gauge law adopted in Maine, is 45 per cent (see chapter iv, p. 212). 



In addition to the lobsters given in table i , Cobb (52) has noticed a male said to 

 have measured 25 inches and to have weighed 25 pounds. It was caught in a hake 

 trawl off the Matinicus light, Maine, at a depth of 60 fathoms, in 1898. The given length 

 in this case does not accord with the given weight, and is probably much too great. 

 Another lobster is mentioned by Hadley {126) ias having a length of 22.5 inches, but 

 weighing only 19.5 pounds; the same kind of difficulty is presented here, the length 

 calling for a much heavier individual. Waite (274) has also recorded the measurements 

 of a large male lobster, which was captured at Block Island April 10, 1896, measured 

 21 inches and weighed when alive slightly over 22 pounds. The length and girth of 

 the cracker and toothed claws were 13.25 and 16.5 inches, and 12.75 ^^'^ 12.25 inches, 

 respectively. 



In June, 1898, Dr. H. M. Smith called.my attention to a large lobster which had 

 been recently captured in New Jersey and which was reported to have measured 23 

 inches in total length and to have weighed 36.5 pounds. Through the kindly aid of the 

 late E. G. Blackford of the Fulton Market, New York, we were able to obtain a reliable 

 account of this interesting specimen, together with the necessary measurements, which 

 are given in table i. This lobster was caught on June 21, 1898, by a fisherman in New 

 York Bay, off East Forty-sixth street, near Bayonne, N. J., and was taken alive to the 

 Bayswater Hotel, where it was on exhibition in a tank for several days. The man who 

 was sent by Mr. Blackford to take the required measurements found that the animal 



