42 
the most part are about to come into berry. Not only so, but it has 
also to be recalled that the berried females are very infrequently 
caught in the earlier part of the year. 
The small number of male crabs caught in the autumn and latter 
part of the year is associated with the breeding habits of the species 
and the subsequent casting of the males. But the latter become more 
and more numerous and according to Mr. Douglas become pre- 
dominant to a slight degree in the beginning of the year.'" The figures 
set forth above do not bear this out, but an inspection of Table IX. 
shows that usually a period arrives in the early part of the year 
when the males are slightly in excess. This slight excess on the 
part of the males is not sufficient, however, when we bear in mind 
the fact that so few berried females are accounted for, to prove that 
the sexes are about equal in numbers. It is very probable for this 
reason that the proportions given at the bottom of Table XI. are to 
some extent rather above than below the percentage of males in 
nature. The facts and the conclusions are on the whole in agreement 
with those arrived at by Cunninghamf and by Williamson. | 
Lobsters. — The totals in Table X. are expressed in percentages 
in Tables XIII. and XIV. and the figures of the latter Table are 
incorporated in Chart II. 
TABLE XIII. — Yearly Proportional Numbers of the Sexes of 
Lobsters. 
Sea Houses. 
Males. 
Females. 
Berried 
Females. 
Total 
Females. 
1899 
50 
32 
17 
50 
1900 
54 
33 
13 
16 
1901 
53 
38 
9 
47 
1902 
48 
38 
14 
52 
1903 
38 
43 
19 
62 
1904 
38 
42 
20 
62 
All the years. 
43 
39 
18 
57 
Bbadnell. 
Males and Females. 
Berried Females. 
1899 
^ 1900 
86 
14 
89 
11 
1901 
87 
13 
1902 
90 
10 
1903 
85 
15 
1904 
86 
14 
All the years. 
87 
13 
*■ Meek. Rep. Northd. Sea Eish. Com., 1898, p. 29. 
t Cunningham. Rep. Cornwall Tech. Ed. Com., 1898, p. 3. 
t Williamson. Op. clt., p. 100. 
