TRANSPLANTING OF LOBSTERS TO THE PACIFIC COAST. 
465 
the extreme heat the thermometer already recording over 80° Fahr. in the shady parts 
of the car. Subsequently all examinations were begun at day- break, and the tanks 
were never opened later in the day excepting to add water, ice, or salt. 
About half a dozen trays were lifted out at a time, that being the number stored 
in each compartment, the rock- weed was partly removed, and each lobster was exam- 
ined to ascertain its condition. The dead lobsters were removed, the rock- weed was 
replaced, and the trays were sprinkled with water and returned to the tanks as 
rapidly as possible. The water used for moistening the trays on this and all subse- 
quent occasions was first kept in the ice-chest for several hours in order to reduce its 
temperature to near the freezing-point of fresh water. It was exceedingly interesting 
to note its revivifying eifect upon the lobsters, which seemed to recognize instinctively 
their native element even though it was doled out to them in such small quantities. 
Some of the lobsters which appeared to be lifeless on a first examination were entirely 
restored by plunging them into the nearly ice-cold sea- water and allowing them to re 
main there several minutes. The wetting of the trays was done by means of an ordinary 
garden sprinkler, and although the precise quantity of water used on each tray was not 
measured, the supply was so apportioned that there was no danger of its becoming 
exhausted before the end of the journey. In order also that the water might reach as 
far as possible, the trays were generally returned to the tanks before wetting, so that 
the drippings from the upper ones might serve to moisten the lower ones. The two 
wettings a day were sufficient to maintain the rock-weed constantly moist, and it 
remained sweet and fresh during the entire trip. 
At the first inspection, the mortality was found to be forty-five lobsters, of which 
twenty-two were males and twenty-three females ; twenty-four were under 10 inches 
long and twenty-one over 10 inches, — showing that the mortality was about equally 
distributed with respect to sex and size. This high death-rate — between 7 and 8 per 
cent, of the entire number — was undoubtedly due directly to the high temperature of 
the tanks during the night. No salt had been used upon the ice, it being supposed 
that the large quantity of ice employed was sufficient to bring the temperature down 
to about 45°, when, in fact, it never fell below 50°, and was sometimes as high as 60°. 
Judging from subsequent inspections, however, it is certain that the heat alone can 
not be held accountable for the heavy losses which occurred from day to day. The 
condition of the lobsters, moreover, furnishes sufficient proof of this. All the dead 
lobsters taken out on the first two days were carefully examined, and there is no 
doubt that a large percentage of them were far advanced toward shedding, the new 
shell in some being fully formed and of the dark color which it assumes just before 
the old shell breaks away. Of the twenty-three females which died the first night 
fourteen also showed traces of recently hatched eggs, and it is now generally consid- 
ered by naturalists that the Crustacea molt soon after losing their spawn. Lobsters 
about to shed are always regarded by the fishermen as in poor condition for the 
market, as they will not stand handling. The great mortality on the present trip was 
therefore probably due primarily to the weak condition of the lobsters, although at 
the time of packing they were certainly very hardy in appearance. It would, more- 
over, be impossible to obtain a better supply at this season of the year, and future 
shipment should preferably be made in the spring or fall. Some deaths also occurred 
among the lobsters which were in contact with the ice or close to it, due probably to the 
Bull. U. S. F. O., 88 30 
