TKANSPLANTING OF LOBSTERS TO THE PACIFIC COAST, 
463 
to liave everything in readiness. Upon oar arrival we found that about nine hun- 
dred medium-sized lobsters of both sexes were being cared for in floating cars, while 
a large quantity of the common rock- weed (Fueus) had been collected from the neigh- 
boring shores. The next day being Saturday it was decided to begin the packing 
and loading early in the morning, in order to start the car westward bpfore Sunday. 
In car iTo. 3 the compartments for carrying live fish consist of two large tanks or 
refrigerators under the floor of the car and extending its entire length between the 
trucks. Access to these tanks is had through large openings in the floor, separated 
only by the width of the floor timbers, and furnished with trap-doors, closing them 
completely. 
The method of shipping the lobsters, as determined by the Commissioner, was to 
pack them in shallow trays or crates which could easily be handled, and in which the lob- 
sters could be examined in small lots at a time during the progress of the journey. The 
dimensions of the trays were regulated in part by the size of the openings to the tanks, 
through which they would have to be passed for storage. They were made of rough 
boards, and measured on the outside 22 inches long by 17 inches wide and 6 inches 
deep. The bottoms consisted of five or six narrow slats, separated by comparatively 
wide interspaces to permit of circulation and free drainage. No covers were provided. 
A tray of these dimensions would hold six lobsters of the average size without undue 
crowding, and it was estimated that one hundred of the trays could be conveniently 
accommodated in the car. 
The packing was done at the Fish Commission wharf, whence the trays were carried 
by water in two lots to the railroad station, about a quarter of a mile distant, and im- 
mediately placed in the large car tanks. The lobsters were transferred from the floating 
cars to the trays with as short an exposure as possible to the open air, and none but 
active and apparently hardy individuals were selected. First a layer of the moist rock- 
weed of sufficient thickness to form a soft and yielding cushion was spread over the 
bottom of the tray, and upon this six lobsters were laid in two rows facing the ends of the 
trays, their backs being upward, and no precautions being taken to fasten the claws or 
restrain their movements. They very rarely attack one another, and to plug the claws, 
as was done on all or nearly all of the former shipments, causes serious injuries, from 
which they may not recover. Over the lobsters a second, loose layer of rock-weed 
was placed, but care was taken that it should not be thick enough to reach above the 
level of the top, in order that it might not pack solidlj' when the trays were piled one 
upon the other. No attempt was made to separate the males from the females, but an 
accurate record of the sexes was kept during the packing. The lobsters were not fed 
during the journey, and it is doubtful if they would have eaten much under the peculiar 
conditions of their imprisonment, The introduction of food would, moreover, have 
resulted in the accumulation of decayed matter among the rock- weed, doing more harm 
than good. 
The total number of lobsters packed in the one hundred trays was 610, of which 
250 were males and 360 females, eight of the latter having spawn attached to the swim- 
merets. In size they ranged mainly from 8 to 12 inches in length, a few only being 
slightly over 12 inches long. About one-half were under 10 inches long, and one-half 
over 10 inches. Four lobsters were also placed in a large tin pail with a small amount 
of rock-weed, and carried in the ice box. 
In addition to the lobsters, about 150,000 loose eggs cut from the swimmerets were 
