144 THE BEST MEANS OF DEVELOPING 



demand of a local character for " partans " at a moderate price. 

 The prospect of lobsters at 2s. 6d. each, as we have known them 

 bought from the fishermen in the further north, throws crabs 

 at 2d. or 3d, each out of reckoning ; in the same way that ling 

 at Is. each blinds fishermen to the advantage of capturing 

 coal-fish at 2d. Yet it may be that the pursuit of " partans," 

 even at 2d. each, is worth considering, more especially when the 

 greatly diminished prices for all produce turns the attention of 

 all classes to neglected articles of commerce. Local markets, if 

 carefully and judiciously fostered, ought to take a large propor- 

 tion of our medium-sized crabs ; but there is not enough money 

 in them for most of our fishmongers to bother over them, while 

 the capture of these having gradually fallen into desuetude, the 

 trade is never pressed to dispose of the catch. It would be 

 useful if some of our principal fishmongers were to supply a 

 few crab-pots to the most likely localities, and endeavour to 

 reintroduce a native industry that at one time helped to eke out 

 a subsistence to many a family in our smaller fishing villages. 



The development of the Scottish crab fishery is then a 

 matter partly of understanding exactly the position of affairs ; 

 partly of knowing how to capture proper sized crabs, how to 

 tell good crabs by weight and appearance, and how to send the 

 proper article to the proper market. The fishermen must not 

 be misled by the Billingsgate rates as published ; they must be 

 satisfied with very reasonable returns, endeavour to foster a 

 local trade throughout the minor towns as well as the larger 

 provincial cities, and seek to show the public that, if good crabs 

 of a reasonable size are desired, they will be readily forth- 

 coming at a moderate price. At the same time, by the use of 

 proper pots in the more suitable districts, crabs to compete 

 with the average of Cornwall may be forthcoming ; the remain- 

 ing portion of the English coast can in no sense interfere 

 between us in the highest class crabs. 



The crab question partly resolves itself in the west of Scot- 

 land into the more general question of the neglect of all minor 

 fisheries in favour of such abundant, and hitherto productive 

 and remunerative, fisheries as the herring, and the cod, and 

 ling. It will have to be taken up, as many other minor 

 industries will be, once the main industries are overstocked or 

 underpaid ; and it appears as if the present were a suitable 

 time in which to summarise the necessities of the trade. These 

 we recapitulate — 



1. The special capture of crabs of good size. 



2. The despatch of the best and largest crabs only to the 

 English market. 



3. The stimulation of local and provincial markets, by pro- 

 viding good crabs at a reasonable price and in good condition. 



