120 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Table 31a. — Variation in the weights of lobsters with and without the great claws. 
Length in 
inches. 
Sex. 
ISTo. of 
lobsters 
exam- 
ined. 
Weight 
with large 
chelipeds, 
in ounces. 
Variation 
in weight. 
W eight 
without 
large cheli- 
peds, 
in ounces. 
Variation 
in weight. 
7| 
1 
13 
10 
7| 
1 
13 
10 
8i 
Lem ale 
3 
13 to 15 
2 
11 
0 
8J 
1 
17 
12 
8* 
1 
17 
12 
si 
1 
16 
12 
8£- 
Male 
1 
17 
12 
9 h 
Male 
6 
22 to 31 
9 
15 to 17 
2 
9i 
Female 
2 
23 to 24 
1 
15 to 16 
1 
10 
1 
28 
17 
10 
Female 
3 
24 to 27 
3 
17 to 18 
1 
11 
1 
48 
22 
11 
1 
39 
22 
Chapter VI.— ENEMIES OF THE LOBSTER. 
ANIMALS WHICH PREY UPON THE LOBSTER. 
The adult lobster, whether with eggs attached to the body or not, is the prey of 
numerous fish which feed upon the sea bottom, like the sharks, skates, and rays. 
When of considerable size or in soft condition it is also devoured by the cod, pollock, 
striped bass, sea bass, tautog, and probably by many other species. In fact every 
predaceous lisli which feeds upon the bottom may be looked upon in general as an 
enemy of the lobster. 
A fisherman at Beal Island, West Jonesport, Maine, stated that he had caught 
cod on trawls 10 to 15 miles from shore with lobsters 4 to 0 inches long in their 
stomachs. Cod were also caught at Grand Manan, in summer, in 20 fathoms of 
water, by Mr. J. W. Fisher, of Eastport, with very small lobsters, 1 1 to 2 inches long, 
in their stomachs. Lobsters an inch long have also been taken from the stomachs of 
codfish on the shores of Prince Edward Island (209, p. 232), and soft lobsters 3 to 8 
inches long have also been found in the stomachs of these fish taken in deep water 
off shore. 
The observations of Mr. Vinal 1ST. Edwards are quoted by Mr. Rathbun (156, p. 782) 
to show the great destruction of lobsters in the Edgartown district, Marthas Vine- 
yard. Out of hundreds of cod caught about No Man’s Land and examined by Mr. 
Edwards, nearly every fish a contained one or more young lobsters, and in many cases 
the stomachs were almost entirely filled with them.” So great did the destruction 
wrought upon the lobster by the cod impress one fisherman (156, p. 728) that he thought 
the cod a greater enemy than the lobstermen, and said: “I have caught one hundred 
cod in one day that I knew had the amount of one thousand lobsters and shadows in 
their entrails.” 
These young lobsters were identified by Professor Baird. 
