AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CRAB AND LOBSTER FISHERIES. 



267 



In the first place, however, it is desirable to review the annual 

 statistics of crabs and lobsters landed on the English coasts since the 

 commencement of the Board's returns, in order to follow the general 

 course of the English shell fisheries during recent years. 



The following table shows the numbers of crabs and lobsters returned 

 as landed on the South Coast and on All Coasts of England and Wales 

 annually since 1886 : — 



Table II., shoiving the Numher of Crabs and Lobsters annually landed 

 (1) on the South Coast, and (2) on All Coasts of England and 

 Wales, from 1886 to 1899, together with the Percentage Ratio in 

 each year of the former to the latter {compiled from the Board 

 of Trade's Returns). 



Year. 



ri886 

 \1887 

 ?188S 

 1 1889 

 1l890 

 U891 

 (1892 

 J 1893 

 1l894 

 11895 

 [1896 

 I 1897 

 1l898 

 U899 



Summary of the preceding Table in Averages for Successive Periods 



of Four Years. 



It will be seeu, from the summary provided, that on the South Coast 

 the number of crabs annually landed has increased very steadily during 

 the entire period covered by the returns, while the quantities landed on 

 all coasts geoerally have remained fairly stationary since 1887. Conse- 

 quently the percentage of crabs landed on the South Coast has increased 

 during the same period, viz. from 14 per cent, in the quadrennial period 

 1888-91 to 21 per cent, in the period 1896-9. 



On the other hand, the c[uantity of lobsters annually landed on the 

 South Coast shows no such steady increase, the maximum having been 

 attained in the years 1890-2, while the total quantity landed on all 

 coasts shows a progressive aggrandisement. Consequently the per- 



