d was 17,821,000.

During the above years the average production of fry was about 54
per cent. By the use of more improved apparatus the average was
brought up to 90 per cent in 1897, when the collections amounted
to 150,000,000 eggs, of which 135,000,000 were hatched. As the
commissioner of sea and shore fisheries of Maine objected to the
taking of female lobsters in that State and the planting of part, at
least, of the resulting fry in other waters, an arrangement was made
in 1898 by which all female lobsters and the fry hatched out from the
eggs secured from these would be returned to the State waters. Under
this arrangement 2,365 "berried" lobsters were bought from the Maine
fishermen by the U. S. Fish Commission. From these 25,207,000 eggs
were taken and 22,875,000 fry were hatched. Of these, 21,500,000 were
deposited in Maine waters at various points. In 1899, 36,925,000 fry
were planted in Maine waters by the Commission. In order that the
female lobsters may be secured the authorities of Maine permit the
fishermen to catch and sell "berried" lobsters to the Commission.

The collection of eggs in Maine is usually made by the Commission
during the months of April, May, June, and to about the middle of
July, depending upon the supply to be had. During the season of 1899 a
small steam smack was chartered for collecting the lobsters, starting
from Gloucester, where the hatching of Maine lobster eggs is now
carried on, and running to Eastport, returning over the same route.
The Fish Commission schooner _Grampus_ was also used in this work.
The lobsters are purchased from fishermen, who receive the market
price for ordinary lobsters, and as they are not allowed to sell
these lobsters legally for consumption the sale to the Commission
materially increases their financial returns.

In 1883 a radical advance along the line of artificial propagation
was made, so far as the legislature was concerned, when the act
incorporating the Samoset Island Association, of Boothbay, was passed.
Section 4 of the charter reads as follows:

In order to secure a sufficient and regular supply of lobsters for
domestic consumption on any land or islands under the control of
said corporation, it may increase the number of lobsters within
said limits by artificial propagation, or other appropriate acts
and methods, under the direction of the fishery commission, and
shall not be interfered with by other parties, but be