43 
during the crabbing season, viz., 24 to every 9,000 bard crabs. The 
males were slightly less in number than the females in February, 
May and June, but were in excess in April. 
Lobsters. — The number of berried bens caught and returned 
was, at Beadnell, 87 to 588 lobsters — the total catch retained — a 
ratio of 1 to every 7 which could be brought ashore ; at Sea Houses 
there were 14 berried bens caught along with 146 lobsters, a ratio 
of 1 to 10. As pointed out last year, there is therefore some degree 
of hardship in returning the berried ben lobster, but we are assured 
byAbe fishermen who do so that the bye-law is conferring a benefit. 
The lobster which, as said in last year’s report, batched its 
berries in the beginning of July, 1900, remained alive and well at 
Cullercoats until the night of 11-12 September, 1901. On the 
morning of the 12tb she was found dead. She measured : Cepbalo- 
tborax, 5 inches ; abdomen, 6-J inches ; altogether, 11|^ inches. On 
being opened the pericardial cavity was found to be filled with a 
gelatinous like mass of clotted blood, which distended the heart as 
well. The ovary was dark green and the ova were well developed. 
The liver was white. There w^as not the least sign of prepara- 
tion for casting. Kecollecting that this lobster was in berry up to 
July, 1900, and that therefore she could not have cast her shell since 
June, 1899, when she came into berry, and, indeed, for the latter 
reason, that she had cast her shell not later than the summer of 
1898, we have a period of at least three and perhaps four years which 
would have elapsed before the next casting, and this in the case of a 
lobster only measuring 11^ inches. It must mean that some 
varieties of lobsters reach about their limit of growth very early — 
vide last year’s report. 
It was a singular coincidence that during the same night a lobster 
which had hatched out her berries completely by the 28th June cast 
her shell. The female, which is still alive, was hard again by 
October 10th, and distinctly so a few days later, thus giving a period 
of four wneks for the hardening process. The cast shell measured. 
Cephalo-thorax 5f inches, abdomen 6^ inches, altogether Ilf inches. 
These lobsters were in separate tanks, but we do not see any 
explanation which could make clear what is at all events a note- 
worthy coincidence. 
A Law of Growth. — The long period elapsing in the later stages 
between the moultings is very interesting when considered in relation 
• This lobstci’ was found dead on January 8th, 1902, owing to the water I)eing neglected. She 
measured: Cephalo-thorax, inches; .abdomen, 7 inches; total length, 12J inches. 
