At night, female lobsters climb to high points on the reef to release their brood of larvae.
It is illegal to take female lobsters with eggs.
Somebody wanted to know how to tell a male from a female lobster.
The state is hoping to protect at least 50,000 female lobsters under the program.
"Hey, Frenchy, what do you do with all them female lobsters?"
The incentive program is a good idea because it allows the female lobsters at least one more chance to reproduce.
Research also showed female lobsters were at low levels.
Each lobsterman is accused of making more than $500 by falsely claiming he protected female lobsters.
Under the program, which ended in June, lobstermen returned to the sea more than one million female lobsters, allowing them time to produce more eggs.