142 THE BEST MEANS OF DEVELOPING 



the coast, there is no doubt a large quantity of edible crabs 

 captured, most of which are again returned to the water, or 

 simply thrown on shore to die. There is not a part of the rocky 

 coast with which we are acquainted that does not at one time or 

 other supply crabs in quantity, but for the most part the best 

 crabs captured in the lobster-creels are of very moderate dimen- 

 sions, and crab-pots pure and simple are rarely employed in 

 Scotland, nor have we ever met them on the rocky north-west 

 coast where the crabs are probably most numerous. From all 

 over the Outer Hebrides, and throughout the Orkney and 

 Shetland Isles, crabs could be forwarded to market in great 

 B*imbers. It is not here, as in some cases in connection with the 

 ordinary fisheries, where the abundance of fish is often taken for 

 granted. The supply of crabs is unquestionable, and we have 

 ourselves captured them at all parts of the Scottish coasts, where 

 they were simply regarded as "offal," and usurping the place of 

 the lobster, which was the special game in view. 



This being the case, we must next inquire whether the crabs 

 captured on our coasts are comparable to those commonly sup- 

 plied to the English market. To this it must be answered, that 

 the crabs of many portions of our coast, notably lochs into which 

 an abundant supply of fresh water empties, are very watery, and 

 not worth putting into the pot. As our native populations are 

 not as a rule eaters of crabs — more especially those on the sea 

 coast — they are not even aware of this fact, and we have seen 

 crabs sent off to friends, or market, that would never have left 

 the shore if the fishermen had known a good crab. A few 

 consignments such as this would naturally raise a strong preju- 

 dice against Scottish crabs, and such are generally most easily 

 procurable from the western lochs, if not from the eastern fore- 

 shore. Our sea-faring population must, in the first place, learn 

 to know what is really a good crab, so that the market be not 

 prejudiced against their consignments ; and then care should be 

 given to keeping up the quality to the highest pitch. 



Another point necessary for the consigner of crabs to be 

 acquainted with is, the general character of the crabs sent to 

 the London market, so that he be not deceived with the 

 market quotations forwarded so regularly from Billingsgate. 

 Only the other week he might have observed crabs quoted at 

 two shillings, when lobsters were as low as one shilling at even 

 this season of the year — October — when the price is supposed 

 to be rapidly advancing in view of wintry weather. But what 

 do the prices mean ? They do not mean that the London con- 

 sumer is giving half the price for the lobster we are striving to 

 capture, that he pays for the crab we are throwing overboard ? 

 The lobster in question is probably moderate in size, and unsatis- 

 factory in condition, while the crabs were such as, in all like- 



