NOTE Koeller and Crowell: Electrotaxis in Homarus americanus 
631 
these would tend to be caught more quickly than 
those farther away. Animals farther from the anode 
have a lower probability of a clear passage through 
crevices and a greater probability of being caught in 
a “dead end” before emerging from the rock pile. 
It is apparent that electrofishing is a potentially 
useful method for sampling EBP lobsters. However, 
some additional research is necessary before a prac- 
tical field sampler can be developed and tested suc- 
cessfully. Our study, although using the most com- 
mon EBP lobster habitat, did not examine other habi- 
tats (e.g. eelgrass, mud) or variations of the common 
habitat, such as different rock sizes and associated 
crevices, or different thicknesses of cobble. Although 
the tedium associated with the existing sampling 
methods could be reduced significantly by using a 
diver-operated electrosampler, the most cost-effective 
and efficient sampler would be operated from a small 
boat without the need for divers. Conceivably, a sam- 
pling device that combines the electrotactic response 
of EBP lobsters with a bottom-to-surface water pump 
(e.g. Bergstedt and Genovese, 1994) could fulfill these 
requirements. Finally, it should be noted that the 
device described was designed only for use in test 
tanks insulated from the operator. The use of electro- 
fishing devices in saltwater by divers, although quite 
safe (Stewart and Cameron, 1974), does require spe- 
cial precautions from an engineering as well as a 
personal safety perspective. 
Literature cited 
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