water prior to recapture. An extension of this reasoning 

 suggests further that others captured and tagged at these 

 midshelf depths were still en route to shoaler grounds 

 (e.g., recapture 25F discussed under subsequent account 

 of composite station 13). 



Composite Station 11 (See Figure 13 and 

 Appendix Table 11) 



Six recaptures have been reported from a single point 

 release of 84 lobsters 7 miles (12.9 km) north of Atlantis 

 Canyon on 16 June 1968. Mean depth at first capture was 

 60 fathoms (110 m); mean depth at release was 55 

 fathoms (101 m). All of the recaptures were reported by 

 specific location. Sex ratio at release was 47 females 

 (56%) to 37 males; the ratio at recapture was 5 females 

 (83%) to 1 male. 



Mean time at large for all recoveries was 361 days (1.0 

 yr). Greatest time at large was 727 days (2.0 yr); the in- 

 dividual involved was an immature female at release and 

 one of two females in the subgroup of returns which sur- 

 passed the 50-mile (92.7-km) range of dispersion from 

 release point. Mean distance traveled by the six 

 recoveries was 32.2 miles (59.7 km). 



Composite Station 12 (See Figure 14 and 

 Appendix Table 12) 



Three recoveries have been reported from a single 

 point release of 57 lobsters 10 miles (18.5 km) northeast 

 of Block Canyon on 16 June 1968. Mean depth at first 

 capture and at release was 60 fathoms (110 m). All three 

 recaptures were reported by specific location. Sex ratio at 

 release was 25 females (44%) to 32 males; the ratio at 

 recapture was 1 female to 2 males. 



Mean time at large for all recoveries was 231 days (0.6 

 yr); greatest time at large was 358 days (1.0 yr) during 

 which time the record individual, a mature male at 

 release, traveled 52 miles (96.4 km) east to the east side 

 of Veatch Canyon. Mean distance traveled by the three 

 recoveries was 30.3 miles (56.2 km). 



Composite Station 13 (See Figure 15 and 

 Appendix Table 13) 



Forty recaptures have been reported from a composite 

 total of 482 releases west of Block Canyon on 18 and 19 

 June 1968. Mean depth at first capture was 60 fathoms 

 (110 m); mean depth at release was 47 fathoms (86 m). 

 Twenty-three of the recaptures were reported by specific 

 location and three by approximate location. Sex ratio at 

 release was 256 females (53%) to 226 males; the ratio at 

 recapture was 25 females (62%) to 15 males. 



Mean time at large for all accountable (37) recoveries 

 was 484 days (1.3 yr); greatest time at large for a located 

 individual, a mature female at release, was 1,360 days 

 (3.7 yr). This individual was recaptured 72 miles (133 

 km) southwest from point of release. 



Mean distance traveled by those lobsters with specific 

 capture locations was 52.1 miles (96.6 km), the record 

 high average for all subgroups of returns. Twelve in- 

 dividuals surpassed the 50-mile (92.7-km) range; ad- 

 ditionally, three others were reported from the vicinity of 

 Veatch Canyon which is well beyond the 50-mile (92.7- 

 km) range from point of release. A disproportionate 

 number (12/15) of the long-distance migrants were 

 females; most of the females were sexually mature at 

 release and all were sexually mature at recapture. 



Two females were recaptured in the coastal trap 

 fishery off southern Long Island, N. Y. One of these (25F) 

 was berried at release and at recapture after having 

 migrated 75 miles (139 km) in 28 days (2.7 miles/day = 

 5.0 km/day). The short term and long distance of this 

 movement clearly supports an hypothesis of directed 

 migration to warmer waters. The second female (335F) 

 taken in the coastal zone was at large 465 days (1.3 yr) 

 and, judging from its size at release, conceivably was 

 engaged in a second or even third seasonal inshore migra- 

 tion. 



Three recoveries (25F, 22F, 42M) are classified 

 migrants. Return 25F, noted above, was recaptured in a 

 local trap fishery at Fire Island Inlet, N.Y., in 7 fathoms 

 (12.8 m) of water; vector and ground speed well ex- 

 emplify the vernal shoaling concept. Return 22F was 

 taken 14 days after release at a point 23 miles (42.6 km) 

 southeasterly in slightly deeper water (60 fathoms = 110 

 m) than depth at release (47 fathoms = 86.0 m); it is 

 significant, perhaps, that recapture depth and original 

 capture depth were identical. We do not imply that this 

 individual sought to return to original depth, but given a 

 depth/temperature constant relationship over short 

 term, it is conceivable that this lobster sought to return 

 to its original temperature stratum. Return 42M, an im- 

 mature male, was recaptured 58 days later and 47 miles 

 (87.1 km) northeasterly in 50 fathoms (91.4 m) of water; 

 considering immaturity and time of year, the net track 

 would seem biologically unproductive. 



Composite Station 14 (See Figure 16 and 

 Appendix Table 14) 



Twenty-five recaptures have been reported from a 

 composite total of 266 releases 15 miles (27.8 km) 

 northwest of Block Canyon on 20 June 1968. Mean depth 

 at first capture was 60 fathoms (110 m); mean depth at 

 release was 49 fathoms (89.6 m). Twenty-two of the 

 recoveries were reported by specific location and one by 

 approximate location. Sex ratio at release was 146 

 females (55%) to 120 males; ratio at recapture was 19 

 females (76%) to 6 males. 



Mean time at large for all accountable (24) recoveries 

 was 401 days (1.1 yr); greatest time at large for a located 

 individual, a mature female at release, was 1,077 days 

 (2.9 yr). This lobster (726F) was recaptured 181 miles 

 (335 km) easterly near the head of Oceanographer Can- 

 yon; the hypothetical straight-line track is the penulti- 

 mate distance record and is exceeded slightly by that of 



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