CRAB AND LOBSTER FISHERIES. 



REPORT 



ON THE 



CRAB AND LOBSTER FISHERIES 



OF 



SCOTLAND. 



Sir, 1st March, 1877. 



In obedience to your instructions of the 13th September Extent of 

 1876, desiring us to hold an inquiry into the state of the crab inquiry. 

 and lobster fisheries of Scotland, we have the honour to inform 

 you that we visited the following places during the months of 

 October aud November last, and examined upwards of 150 wit- 

 nesses, consisting principally of fish salesmen and practical fisher- 

 men, with the view of ascertaining the condition and requirements 

 of the said fisheries : — On the east coast, Edinburgh, Newhaven, 

 North Berwick, Dunbar, Cockburnspath, Coldingham Shore, 

 Montrose, Stonehaven, Muchalls, Cove, Aberdeen, Peterhead, St. 

 Combs, Inverallochy, Fraserburgh, Banff, Burghead, Inverness, 

 "Wick, Ackergill, and Thrumster ; on the north coast and in the 

 Orkney islands, Huna, Thurso, Kirkwall, and Stromness ; and 

 on the west coast and in the Hebrides, Stornoway, Tarbert in 

 Harris, Portree, Tobermory, Salen, Oban, and Glasgow. 



The crab fisheries of Scotland are almost entirely confined to Position of [the 

 the east coast, and to the north coast from Duncansby Head to Scotch crab 

 Loch Erribol. The most productive lobster fisheries are to be fisheries 3 ** 

 found in the Orkney Islands, in the inner and outer Hebrides, 

 and in the sea lochs of the western coast.* A good many 

 crabs, indeed, are caught in the lobster creels on the west coast ; 

 but they are not appreciated and scarcely used for local con- 

 sumption, while they are so far from a market where they would 

 meet with a ready sale that they do not stand the journey, 

 and it does not therefore pay to send them.f On the east coast, 



* The Scotch lobster fisheries produce altogether about 300,000 lobsters annually 

 most of which are forwarded to the English markets. 



•f It is possible that increased facilities of transit may yet develop the crab fisheries 

 of the west coast and islands of Scotland. 



