No Decrease in Numbers ; Data Concerning. 229 



smaller shrimps of an inch and 1| inch, as a matter of course, 

 will be found among them. According 1 to the predominance of 

 small, middle or large sizes, or a moderate uniformity in 

 appearance, so will the lot be regarded favourably or otherwise. 

 As product of market value, size goes a long way, though 

 colour, freshness and flavour of flesh are all to be taken into 

 account, which the practised buyer recognises at once. 



Numbers. The abundance, nay vast armies of the brown 

 shrimp, is best attested by the fleets of Essex and Kent beam- 

 trawlers kept pretty constantly at work throughout the year. 

 Besides, take into account the many individuals who use shove- 

 nets daring the season on the E. and S. Kent shores. Crangon 

 cannot be considered scarce or declining in numbers when quite 

 recently, as in years past, not only average catches of 30 to 50, 

 but on red-letter days 80 to 100 gallons have sometimes re- 

 warded a Leigh boat's trip. Nor do the Pegwell Bay, &c., 

 shrimps seem to decrease. Of course there are times of pro- 

 nounced glut and unforeseen scarcity. Doubtless (among others) 

 meteorological conditions are a pressing factor, for shrimps it is 

 well known are very sensitive to depression of temperature with 

 a frost few are to be got. An old shrimper recalls one year 

 (about 1868 ?) when there was quite a dearth until July. The 

 catch then was only from 1 to 2 gallons daily. His expression 

 was "they were drove to bed somewhere." 



With the view of ascertaining how many shrimps there are 

 to the gallon, we measured half a gallon, and, accurately counting 

 these, doubled the same. The results are given below. 



Brown shrimps. Smallest, below the usual market size, with 

 an average of about 1J inches (some over) = 426. Of market 

 size : smalls, If to 2 inches = 683 ; mediums, 2 inches average 

 = 84 ; bigs, 2| and 2f inches = 56. Total of browns = 1,249. 



Pink shrimps. Smalls, If to If inches = 186 ; mediums, 

 If to 2 inches = 19 ; bigs, 2J inches average = 15. Total of 

 pinks = 220- The whole of both sorts in half a gallon = 1,469, 

 or equivalent to 2,938 per gallon. 



