Vlll 



1st March ; John Bain, another fisherman, supports a close season 

 from 15th June to 31st January ; Finlay McLean, a third fisher- 

 man of 40 years' experience on both sides of the Moray Firth, 

 and at the Land's End, proposes to close June, July, August, and 

 September ; David Gunn, fish merchant, Wick, would shut June, 

 July, and August ; and John Mackie, editor of the " Northern 

 Ensign," is in favour of the same close time as Donald Thomson, 

 — from 1 5th June to 1st March. 



We found a similar preponderance of evidence in favour of a 

 close time during the summer and autumn months at Kirk- 

 wall and Stromness, the chief towns of the Orkney Isles. At 

 Kirkwall, five witnesses were examined, four of whom support 

 a summer and autumn close time, and the fifth advocates 

 a close time, without saying what it should be. Robert 

 Brough, fish merchant, Kirkwall, would close July, August, 

 September, and October; Donald Neil, fisherman, Kirkwall, 

 " thinks the close season should commence on 1st July, and 

 " should last two or three months" ; Joseph Murrell, fish- 

 curer and fish salesman, Stromness, would have the close season 

 commence on 16th July and close on 1st December; Robert 

 Hercus, fisherman, Kirkwall, "thinks July, August, September, 

 " and October, would be a sufficient close season " ; and John 

 Hercus would have the close season " commence in July, and end 

 " in October." At Stromness, Samuel Flett, fisherman, is in 

 favour of a close time from 1st August to 1st January ; and 

 Peter Sinclair and William Stanger, both fishermen, and the 

 only other witnesses examined, would have a close season during 

 June, July, August, and September. 



Even in Stornoway, the capital of the Lews, the largest and 

 most populous of the Hebrides, whose western coasts are exposed 

 to the full fury of the Atlantic gales, the great majority of the 

 witnesses are of the same opinion. Murdo Morrison, Island of 

 Bernera, " is in favour of a close season in June and July." 

 George Macaulay, Island of Bernera, says : " The fishing season 

 " now commences on the 1st August, and ends in the following 

 " June. The lobsters are not fished in June and July, because the 

 ie men cannot get enough for them to make it worth their while, 

 " and the buyers won't buy because the lobsters won't stand the 

 te carriage. . . . Never fishes in June or July now. These months 

 " are practically a close season. The coast is very stormy, and 

 " the fishermen would be stopped eight to nine days a month 

 " throughout the year/' Kenneth Smith, fish merchant, Storno- 

 way, il is in favour of a close season in May, June, July, and 

 " August." Archibald Munro, manager at Stornoway for Mr. Mac- 

 lachlan, of Glasgow, " is in favour of a close time for lobsters. It 

 " should commence on 1st May and terminate on 30th September." 

 John McSween, fisherman, Stornoway, u would have a close season 

 " commencing 1st May and ending 30th September." John Mac- 

 donald, fisherman, Stornoway, " is in favour of a close season, com- 

 " mencing 1st April and ending 30th September," and so is Angus 



