198 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



will probably be more powerful than anything that man 

 can do ; but whether under favourable or adverse circum- 

 stances man's little effort should also be made to restore 

 the balance of nature by returning to the sea some 

 proportion of what he takes from it. 



This is likewise true of Lobster hatching, and it is 

 important to note that the greater number of the eggs 

 from which young Lobsters are hatched in American 

 hatcheries are taken from parent Lobsters which are on 

 their way to the tinning factories ; and, therefore, it may 

 fairly be claimed that millions of embryo Lobsters are 

 saved from certain destruction, and given a chance at 

 least of prolonged life and of reaching adult size. 



There are a couple of Mr. Fryer's general observations 

 in regard to which I would make a remark, because I 

 believe he has pointed out difficulties in the artificial 

 operations which it is important to guard against. He 

 remarks that "the tendency under the artificial conditions 

 of a hatchery is towards an increased temperature, which 

 hastens development of both ova and embryo, and causes 

 them to anticipate the natural period for hatching, regard- 

 less of the general climatic conditions of the season." 

 Well, this must be prevented, and it is not difficult in 

 early spring — the usual hatching season — to keep the 

 water in the tanks as cool as that in the sea. In the 

 height of summer it is different, but at that time the sea 

 itself is probably sufficiently warm to prevent there being 

 any ill results from a few days anticipation of the period 

 at which the hatching would take place in nature. 



Mr. Fryer says further: — "Then — as to the circum- 

 stance under which the young fry are ' planted ' — w T hile 

 they would be hatched naturally in deep open water, ol a 

 high density and comparatively low temperature, they 

 are almost of necessity liberated in shallow water, of 



