37 



Interesting tables are then given to indicate the proportion 

 of lobsters under different sizes — 9, 10, 11 and 12 in. The 

 figures for the small lobsters under 9 in. are derived mainly 

 from the Sussex returns, the size limit in that district being 

 8 in. — the percentage below 9 in. being found to be 23 9 of the 

 total catch. This figure appears to be large Avlien considered in 

 comparison with those I obtained several years ago from 

 ^Ir. J. Douglas, Beadnell. In the report for 1904 it was 

 pointed out that the totals for the six years ending 1904 were : — 



Hard. Berried. Small. 



4,655 ... 712 ... 478 

 Adding 1905 526 ... 72 ... 28 



5,181 784 506 



The hard referred to the lobsters which were marketable, the 

 berried and small to the lobsters which were returned to the sea. 

 The percentage of the small lobsters under 9 in. to the total 

 catch, including the berried lobsters and the small, is therefore 

 7 '8, say 8, or 8' 7 if the berried lobster be deducted. It appears 

 also to be smaller in the North Eastern district than that stated 

 for Sussex. 



Percentage of Berried Females. — From the evidence 

 obtained from Sussex, the proportion of berried lobsters to the 

 total catch was found to be 10*48, and for the North Eastern 

 12'4. From the above figures referring to Beadnell on the 

 Northumberland coast, it will be seen that berried lobsters have 

 a percentage relationship of 12'1 to the total catch, or 13T if the 

 small be deducted. At Sea Houses the returns contributed by 

 Mr. Fawcus showed that the percentage was as large as 17, but 

 in this case the small lobsters were not included. It should be 

 remembered also that these figures referring to Northumberland 

 were obtained mainly during the months January to July. 

 There is a remarkable difference between the Sussex figures and 

 those for the east coast with regard to the times when the 

 berried lobster is most in evidence. It was found in Northum- 

 berland that most Avere caught during the months that are 

 protected, viz., April to July. This appears to be the case 

 likewise in the North Eastern district. In Sussex, however, 

 feAver berried lobsters evidently are caught in June, July and 

 August, than in the other months of the year. 



