2 
fish for examination, but was not suitable for estimating 
their comparative abundance. This period will therefore be 
treated separately (p. 3). The full particulars of the hauls 
are given on pp. II-43. 
It cannot be said from these experimental hauls that any 
diminution in the supply of crawfish has been detected, but 
this could hardly be expected in view of the comparatively 
short time the experiments have been carried on. They should 
- be continued systematically. 
No increase or diminution in size of crawfish captured has 
been detected. 
The hauls in 1916 from July to September show remarkably 
few spawning fish as indicated by the presence of “berry ” 
or the possession of a soft new shell. It was only in October 
that they were procured in fair abundance and this continued 
till about the middle of December. In 1917 the spawning 
season seems to have commenced earlier and females in berry 
were plentiful about the beginning of June. 
It will be observed from the returns that there are frequently 
cases of spawning and casting of shell which occur through- 
out the year. Thus males in soft shell are found to occur 
in the winter months, and females in the summer months. 
This is confirmed by observations of the animals in captivity. 
Thus in the tanks of the Marine Laboratory at St. James a 
male of 44 inches cast its shell on May 2oth and females cast 
their shells from May 30th up to the middle of August as 
shown in the following table. 
Size. Date of Casting Shell. 
Breeches a wear <: | 30th, May, 19017, 
44 sf ae . =; 7thy ume; ong. 
4 2 “iH sen \ 7th june aor, 
22 ce ve ‘a - OUD Pune. Om Ze 
4 5 ce +. - 14th qlune, mong. 
24 55 : 4 i6th June,19n7. 
24 2 a ve 13th ajuly; OEE 
22 is ie 5. . Lothajuly,2 romg: 
3 a ap a» - 25th duly som: 
23 55 3 .. > Ath August. rong. 
24. i. me ee 8th August, 1917. 
34 5 ay ..7, 15th August, 1917; 
An important question with regard to the spawning of 
crawfish has arisen from observations of the fish in captivity 
and has been noted in previous reports. “This is whether or 
not the crawfish spawns annually. It has been suggested 
that there may be two spawning periods during the year, but 
all the observations made with sufficient accuracy indicate 
that this is not the case and it could hardly be expected to 
be so as the fish carries its eggs for several months. Some 
observations seem to indicate that the spawning may not be 
