The table given below shows for certain years the number of pots used, the quantity of lobsters taken, with their value, also the average catch and value per man, the average catch per pot, and the average price per pound: 

Average Average Average Average
Catch          catch   stock   catch   price
Fisher-           ----------------     per     per     per     per
Year    men    Pots     Pounds     Value     man     man     pot    pound
----    ---    ----     ------     -----     ---     ---     ---    -----
pounds         pounds   cents

1880  1,843  104,456  14,234,182  $268,739   7,723  $146     136     1.9
1887  1,906  113,299  22,916,642   512,044  12,023   269     202     2.2
1888  1,967  112,632  21,694,731   515,880  11,029   267     193     2.4
1889  2,080  121,140  25,001,351   574,165  12,020   276     206     2.3
1892  2,628  153,043  17,642,677   663,043   6,713   252     117     3.8
1898  3,099  155,978  11,183,294   992,855   3,609   320      78     8.9

While the catch increased up to 1889 and then decreased until in 1898 it was lower than in 1880, the number of fisherman and pots and the value of the catch steadily increased.  The average stock per man fluctuated somewhat from year to year, but in 1898 shows a considerable increase over every other year.  The most interesting point however, is the average price per pound.  In 1880 this was 1.9 cents, while in 1898 it was 8.9 cents per pound.  With one exception, each year shows a progressive increase in value per pound.  The great increase of 1898 over 1892, 5.1 cents per pound, was caused by the closing up of the canneries in 1895, and the consequent dropping out of the cheap product they had been buying from the fishermen.

WEIGHT OF LOBSTERS.

The figures given below show the average weight of lobsters at certain given lengths.  These weights are made up from the results obtained by investigators of the United States Fish Commission, particularly those of Prof.  Francis H. Herrick.  Males in nearly every instance weigh slightly more than females of the same length.

Weight
Length      in pounds.
------      ---------
9 inches        1.16
l0 inches        1.50
10-1/2 inches    1.75
11 inches        2
12 inches        2.50
13 inches        2.75
15 inches        4.25

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LOBSTERS.

The nutritive value of a fishery product is of considerable interest to the consumer.  Some years ago, Prof.  W. O. Atwater, of Middletown, Connecticut, made a series of careful analyses of the composition of the flesh of three lobsters from the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts, and the figures given below represent the results: 

Per cent.
---------

Proportions of edible portion and shell: 

Total edible portion                             39.77
Shell                                            57.47
Loss in cleaning                                  2.76

Proportions of water and dry substance
in edible portion: