TEANSPLANTING OF LOBSTERS TO THE PACIFIC COAST. 
467 
made at several places in San Francisco Bay, to determine the salinity of the water. 
The results reduced to 60° Fahr., according to the Hubbard table, were as follows: 
Locality. 
Density at 
surface. 
Density at 
bottom. 
1. 019887 
1.021487 
1. 019887 
1. 021487 
1. 018687 
1. 021687 
1. 019887 
1. 021487 
The average specific gravity of the water of the ocean being about 1.0274, it was 
decided, leaving the impurities of these localities out of consideration, that the low 
salinity of the water alone would not warrant the planting of the lobsters in the bay, 
and that some other place must be selected. The neighborhood of Monterey appeared 
to offer good advantages for the purpose, and the car, after going to Oakland, was, 
therefore, dispatched to that place, where it arrived on the evening of June 23, just 
seven days after leaving Wood’s Holl. After leaving Elko, Nevada, fifty-five lobsters 
had died, making a total loss of two hundred and eighty-two lobsters during the trip. 
The number remaining on hand was three hundred and thirty-two, and all seemed to 
be in good condition. Of the 196,000 loose eggs carried on the trays, it was estimated 
that about 75 per cent, were also in fair shape, only those on the two or three upper 
trays having died. 
It had been intended to i)iace all the lobsters in floating cars for a few days’ time 
before consigning them to the ocean, in order to make sure of their condition, but as 
these commodities of the Eastern fishermen were unknown in the vicinity of Monterey, 
none had been provided, and it was considered prudent to plant a part of the ship- 
ment without delay. On the evening of arrival, therefore, one hundred and sixty-two 
lobsters were taken out in a fisherman’s boat and dropped into the sea, about three- 
fourths of a mile off shore, between Pacific Grove and Chinatown, in a depth of 12 
fathoms, rocky bottom. Observations made at the same time showed the temperature 
of the water to be 64°, and its density about 1.025. The remaining lobsters, one hun- 
dred and seventy in number, were placed the same evening in several boxes that were 
floated in the bay. The next day Mr. Ellis had a car constructed, measuring 12 
feet long, by 6 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, and to this the lobsters were then trans- 
ferred. A second plant of ninety-five lobsters was made July 1, 1 mile off Point 
Lobos, to the south of Carmel Bay, in a depth of 30 fathoms, rocky bottom. Only 
two had died since they were taken from the railroad car, the remainder being active 
and feeding well. Seventy-three lobsters were, therefore, left in the car, and of these 
it had been arranged to send fifty of the best and most hardy by the steamer Albatross 
to the northern part of the California coast. An attempt was made to remove these 
from the car July 4, while it was still floating, but the lobsters were so active as to 
elude all efforts with the dip-net. The car was then hauled part way out on the beach, 
but a heavy swell carried away one of the bottom boards, and through the opening 
thus formed the lobsters began to beat a hasty and unceremonious retreat. Only thirty 
were captured, the balance making for the deeper water and getting safely away to 
sea. Their actions forcibly demonstrated the fact that they were in the very best con- 
dition for planting, and their escape at this place can not be regarded as a mishap, 
although it was somewhat tautaliziug to have them assume the initiative. 
