mother,
rise to the surface of the ocean, and, lead a free life as
pelagic larvae. The first larva is about one-third of an inch
long (7.84 mm). The swimming period lasts from six to eight
weeks, or until the lobster has molted five or at most six
times, and is three-fifths of an inch long, when it sinks to
the bottom. It now travels toward the shore, and, if fortunate,
establishes itself in the rock piles of inlets of harbors,
where it remains until driven out by ice in the fall or early
winter. The smallest, now from 1 to 3 inches long, go down
among the loose stones which are often exposed at low tides.
At a later period, when 3 to 4 inches long, they come out of
their retreats and explore the bottom, occasionally hiding or
burrowing under stones. Young lobsters have also been found in
eelgrass and on sandy bottoms in shallow water.

(19) The food of the larva consists of minute pelagic
organisms. The food of the older and adult stages is largely of
animal origin with but slight addition of vegetable material,
consisting chiefly of fish and invertebrates of various kinds.
The large and strong also prey upon the small and weak.

(20) The increase in length at each molt is about 15.3 per
cent. During the first year the lobster molts from 14 to 17
times. At 10-1/2 inches the lobster has molted 25 to 26 times
and is about 5 years old.

As the purpose of this article is to deal more particularly with the
commercial side of the lobster question all interested more
particularly in the natural history of the animal are referred to the
following works:

The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States,
sec. I, pp. 780-812.

The American Lobster, by Francis H. Herrick. Bull. U. S. Fish
Com. for 1895, pp. 1-252.

HISTORY OF THE FISHERY.

Ever since the early Puritan settlers first learned from the Indians
how to utilize the lobster, it has been one of the most prized
articles of food in the New England States. The early town records of
Massachusetts contain frequent references to this valuable crustacean,
and efforts were made at an early day to conserve the supply.

At first, as most settlers lived on or near the coast, each family
could easily secure its own supply, but as the settlements gradually
extended farther inland this became inconvenient, and it soon became
customary for certain persons living on the coast to