from six to eight weeks, the length of time requisite for this
varying with the food and other conditions of the animal.

(18) The young, after hatching, cut loose from their 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.