352 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The question then arose, would similar lobsters live the same length of time on board a ship 
crossing the Atlantic, and in w^ater constantly changing in temperature? Messrs. McGray were quite 
convinced that they would. They, therefore, arranged to ship 50 lobsters by the steamship Historian, 
running from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to London direct. The passage was expected to occupy 14 days. 
This was more than sufficient to thoroughly test the system, seeing that steamers are available which 
make the passage in 10 days. The ship left Halifax at 8 a. m. on Thursday, December 10, Mr. Harold 
McGray being on lioard to personally conduct the experiments. The lobsters were shipped under 
ratlier unfavorable circumstances, they having then been out of water for 24 hours. The losses 
during the voyage were as follows: On the first day 2 lobsters died; on the fifth day, 4; on the sixth 
day, 1; on the seventh day, 3; on tlie eighth day, 1; on the ninth day, 1; on the twelfth day, 2. 
The fifth day a receptacle containing 15 lobsters was swept overboard during a southwest 
hurricane. The first 2 deaths were due to the unsatisfactory condition of the fish when shipped; the 
next 4 were killed by the rapid change in temperature during the passage across the Gulf stream; 2 
died from injuries inflicted by larger and stronger ones, while the remainder died from some unknown 
cause. 
On leaving Halifax the temperature of the water was 44°, and this was maintained for 4 days. 
On the banks of Newfoundland it varied from 45° to 48°, while, on arriving in the Gulf stream, it 
suddenly rose to 65°. Mr. McGray was naturally anxious to ascertain the effect produced on the 
crustaceans by this rapid rise in temperature. Four of them succumbed, as we have said; but the 
rest remained in good condition. 
Strange to say, the cold air and the warm water exercise an equally fatal effect on these delicate 
fish, accustomed to live in depths where the air never penetrates, and where the water never rises 
above a certain temperature. Another curious point was that they traveled the entire distance — 
2,800 miles — without requiring anything in the shape of food. When at the bottom of the ocean they 
eat fish, and when brought to the surface to be kept for a certain time they can be fed on oatmeal. 
They would, of course, eat fish, but it has been found that they fight for this food like hungry wolves, 
biting and seriously injuring one another. To avoid all possible risk Mr. McGray decided to give 
them nothing to eat and found that they still remained in good condition. 
Up to the time of the arrival of the shipment in the Victoria docks, at noon on December 26, 
everything had come up to the expectations of the exporters. Unfortunately, however, they reached 
London just at the time when, owing to the Christmas holidays, the markets were closed for 3 days. 
Thej' had consequently to be kept on the ship for nearly 2 days, until the morning of Monday, 
December 28, and the water in the dock had to be used in the endeavor to keep them alive. That 
dock water, helped by the fog, killed all but four. It will, however, be admitted that these quite 
exceptional circumstances do not detract from the value of the experiment, as showing that live 
lobsters can be brought to this country in a marketable state, and Mr. McGray is confident, from the 
experience he has gained, that the next shipment will establish beyond doubt the feasibility of a 
successful and profitable trade. 
The practicability of the transport of live lobsters having been thus far demonstrated, the 
promoters will later on arrange for the acquisition of a 15-knot boat specially fitted with the necessary 
apparatus for the conveyance of live lobsters in large quantities across the Atlantic. This will enable 
them to supply the markets of London and Paris with first-class lobsters delivered alive in those cities 
at less than half the price now paid for English lobsters of equal quality. 
Ml’. Adolph Nielsen, lishery expert coimected with the Newfoundland Fisheries 
Commission, thus discusses the practicability of shipping live lobsters to Europe: 
The exportation of lobsters alive to England and the European Continent is a matter which has 
occupied my attention very much, and is worthy of the Fishery Commission’s greatest attention, 
because if it could be carried out successfully it would mean a large increase in the value of the 
lobster fishery. The greatest difficulties to be overcome in carrying lobsters alive in large (juantities 
for a long distance is to prevent them from crowding together on top of each other if shipped in bulk, 
in which way a large number of them suffocate, and to keep them alive for any length of time in hot 
weather in the summer, especially in water of a high temperature. Several experiments have been 
made in the United States with shipments of lobsters alive in the hot season in vessels built for the 
purpose, fitted out either with wells or after other plans, but as far as I am aware the attempt has not 
yet l)een successful. I saw a few years ago a steamer fitted out to carry lobsters alive from Nova 
Scotia to the States. She had her hold divided into compartments, which were intended to be filled 
