43 



PROTECTION OF THE CRAB. 



By A. MEEK. 



In previous reports tlie reasons for the proposal to institute a 

 close season have been fully presented — see particularly the 

 report for 1908-9. During the season recommended, viz., 

 October to December, the soft crabs in our district are so 

 numerous as to constitute 70 to 80 per cent, of the catch. They 

 enter the crab-pots in great numbers, and therefore, in spite of 

 every care, are liable to destruction. It is the fact also that the 

 majority of the soft crabs during these months are females, the 

 males casting later. It is only a small proportion of the catch 

 which the fisherman is able to consign to market. It consists of 

 males which are about to cast, and of females which are about to 

 become berried. It also includes a variable number of soft or 

 white crabs which have been overlooked. The consequence is 

 a liability to disgust the consumer, and to have the consignment 

 condemned, and the marketing is done in a season when the 

 prices are at their lowest. 



As I have shoAvn in the reports referred to, an interesting 

 comparison may be made between the North Eastern and our 

 own district with regard to the landings of crabs for the period 

 during which statistics are available. In both districts it may 

 be taken for granted that the conditions are fairly parallel so far 

 as the increase in the catching power is concerned. But from 

 1896 to 1906 a close time Avas in operation in the North Eastern 

 district from September 1st to January 31st each year. During 

 these years, therefore, while the Northumberland fishermen could 

 fish at all seasons of the year, the fishermen of the North Eastern 

 district could only fish for seven months. It is well known also 

 that in Northumberland, during the years in question, the autumn 

 fishing for crabs reached a high degree of intensity. 



