64 CANCERID^. 



durability and toughness. These pots are formed on the 

 principle of a common wire mouse-trap, but with the en- 

 trance at the top ; they are baited with pieces of fish, 

 generally of some otherwise useless kind, and these are 

 fixed into the pots by means of a skewer. The pots are 

 sunk by stones attached to the bottom, and the situation 

 where they are dropped is indicated, and the means of rais- 

 ing them provided, by a long line fixed to the creel, or pot, 

 having a piece of cork attached to the free end of the line : 

 these float the line, and at the same time serve to designate 

 the owners of the different pots ; one perhaps having three 

 corks near together, towards the extremity of the line, 

 and two distant ones ; another may have one cork fastened 

 cross-wise ; another two fastened together, and so on. It 

 is of course for their mutual security that the fishermen 

 abstain from any ])oacliing on their neighbour's property ; 

 and hence we find that stealing from each other's pots is 

 a crime almost wholly unknown amongst them. It is at 

 Bognor, and Hastings, and in Studland and Swanage Bays 

 in Dorsetshire, that I have principally had opportunities of 

 personal observation on these points ; and I am also in- 

 debted to my friend Mr. Richard Couch for some interest- 

 ing observations on this subject ; in addition to which I 

 would refer to an excellent account of the crab and lobster 

 fishery, in the 6th volume of the Penny Magazine. 



Mr. Richard Couch informs me that on the coast of 

 Cornwall " most of these crabs are sold to the lobster 

 smacks ; but, that Avhen brought on shore for sale, those 

 measuring six inches across the carapace are sold for two- 

 pence each ; those of eight or ten inches, threepence, and 

 the largest from sixpence to eightpence ! " If the crabs 

 are not immediately wanted on being taken out of the 

 pots, they are placed in store pots, wliicli are of the same 



