Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
The Lobster Fishery of Maine Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, Vol. 19, Pages 241-265, 1899 By: John N. (John Nathan) Cobb (1868-1930) |
---|
![]()
by JOHN N. COBB,
Agent of the United States Fish Commission. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission , Vol. 19,
Pages 241 265, 1899 [Illustration: The sailing smack Bar Bel of Rockland]
For some years past the condition of the lobster fishery of New
England has excited the earnest attention of all interested in the
preservation of one of the most valuable crustaceans of our country.
In the State of Maine, particularly, where the industry is of the
first importance, the steady decline from year to year has caused the
gravest fears, and incessant efforts have been made by the United
States Fish Commission, in conjunction with the State Fish Commission
of Maine, to overcome this decline. This paper presents the results of
an investigation by the writer in 1899. All statistics, when not
otherwise stated, are for the calendar year 1898. I am indebted to so many dealers, fishermen, and others for
information given and courtesies extended that it is impossible to
mention them by name; and I now extend to all my most sincere thanks
for their many kindnesses.
[Illustration: The first steam smack to carry lobsters in a well] NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LOBSTER. Although the lobster has been of great value to the New England States
and the British Provinces as a food commodity, but little was known of
its life history and habits until within the last few years. To this
ignorance has been due quite largely peculiar (and in some instances
useless) laws enacted by some States. The gradual enlightenment of the
public on this subject has borne good fruit, however, and most of the
present State laws are founded on substantial facts instead of
theories. Prof. Francis H. Herrick has been one of the most prominent
of the investigators, and his summary of the present knowledge on this
subject is quoted below from the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1897:
(1) The fishery is declining, and this decline is due to the
persistence with which it has been conducted during the last
twenty five years. There is no evidence that the animal is
being driven to the wall by any new or unusual disturbance of
the forces of nature. (2) The lobster is migratory only to the extent of moving to
and from the shore, and is, therefore, practically a sedentary
animal. Its movements are governed chiefly by the abundance of
food and the temperature of the water. (3) The female may be impregnated or provided with a supply of
sperm for future use by the male at any time, and the sperm,
which is deposited in an external pouch or sperm receptacle,
has remarkable vitality. Copulation occurs commonly in spring,
and the eggs are fertilized outside the body. (4) Female lobsters become sexually mature when from 8 to 12
inches long. The majority of all lobsters 10 1/2 inches long
are mature. It is rare to find a female less than 8 inches long
which has spawned or one over 12 inches in length which has
never borne eggs. (5) The spawning interval is a biennial one, two years elapsing
between each period of egg laying. (6) The spawning period for the majority of lobsters is July
and August. A few lay eggs at other seasons of the year in the
fall, winter, and probably in the spring. (7) The period of spawning lasts about six weeks, and
fluctuates slightly from year to year. The individual variation
in the time of extrusion of ova is explained by the long period
during which the eggs attain the limits of growth. Anything
which affects the vital condition of the female during this
period of two years may affect the time of spawning. (8) The spawning period in the middle and eastern districts of
Maine is two weeks later than in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts.
In 1893 71 per cent of eggs examined from the coast of Maine
were extruded in the first half of August. (9) The number of eggs laid varies with the size of the animal.
The law of production may be arithmetically expressed as
follows: The number of eggs produced at each reproductive
period varies in a geometrical series, while the length of
lobsters producing these eggs varies in an arithmetical
series... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|