i8 



of lobsters was apparently decreasing rapidly. He 

 might say that on the coast of Norfolk there was a 

 small lobster and crab fishery on a ground of about 

 fourteen miles in length by three to four miles in breadth, 

 which many years ago was a very productive fishery, but 

 unfortunately the practice of breaking up small crabs for 

 bait, and also the practice of sending to market berried 

 hen lobsters, was carried on to such an extent that the 

 fishery was reduced really to nothing. He was asked to 

 institute a Board of Trade inquiry, and the late Mr. 

 Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole came down and held 

 it ; the result being that an order was passing putting a 

 stop to the capture of berried hen lobsters and also the 

 soft crabs, and the fishermen were strongly advised to 

 stop the breaking up of small crabs for bait. That order 

 was in force for three years, and when it expired, which 

 was on the ist of February this year, another inquiry was 

 held by the Board of Trade, under the supervision of 

 Professor Huxley. The evidence which was given, not 

 only from the fishermen, but the salesmen, was so con- 

 vincing as to the effect of the order being to increase the 

 supply to four or five times what it was previous to the 

 order being passed, that the Board of Trade had now 

 passed an order putting a stop to the practices which were 

 in vogue for ten years, and the fishermen had made up 

 their minds that they would endeavour to get a local 

 Act passed to put a stop entirely to the breaking up of 

 small crabs. That showed what could be done in a small 

 district, and he hoped it would be carried out throughout 

 the country. 



Mr. Brady had much pleasure in seconding the resolu- 

 tion. He did not know that there was any question 

 more interestino; than that of crab and lobster fisheries. 



