IX 



Macleod, another Stornoway fisherman, Then, at Tarbert, in the 

 island of Harris, we find the Scarpa fishermen voluntarily insti- 

 tuting and observing a close time from May to December with 

 the best effects ; and if we look at the evidence given at Tarbert, 

 we find that it corroborates that previously cited in favour of the 

 propriety of closing the summer and part of the autumn months. 

 Norman Macleod, jun., general dealer and fisherman, Tarbert, " is 

 " in favour of a six months' close season. Would commence fish* 

 a ing at the end of November and end at the beginning of May." 

 William McQueed, for 25 years buyer for Mr. Maclachlan, of 

 Glasgow, " is in favour of a close season in May, June, July, 

 " and August/' Robert McKay, fisherman and fish salesman, 

 Tarbert : " There are only a few fishermen fishing lobsters in 

 " the summer time. Sends lobsters away himself in summer 

 11 time. Sends them to London and Manchester. Many die ; 

 " sometimes they all die. This is a great waste, and ought to be 

 '-' stopped. Would like to see it stopped. ... Is in favour of a 

 " close season, commencing on the 12th May, and would resume 

 " fishing on the 1st September/' David Macdonald, fisherman : 

 — " The Scarpa men begin fishing in November and stop at the 

 " beginning of May. . . . The Scarpa men are all against fishing 

 " in summer and harvest time, and he agrees with them/' Malcolm 

 Kare, fisherman, West Loch Tarbert : — " There were 30 times 

 t( more lobsters when he began fishing 46 years ago than there 

 " were when he left off 12 years ago. Attributes decrease 

 c: to summer fishing." Ewen Macdonald and Donald Munro, 

 fishermen, Tarbert, are both " in favour of a close season, coni- 

 " mencing 1st May and ending 31st October." 



Coming now to Mull, a very important member of the 

 Hebridean group of islands, from which at least 40,000 lobsters 

 are annually exported, we find additional evidence in favour of 

 a close time for lobsters, including the summer months. Duncan 

 Campbell, fish merchant, Salen, Mull, says : — " The close time 

 " should be from 1st June to 1st September." Archibald 

 Maclean, general merchant, Tobermory, " is in favour of a close 

 " time for lobsters from May to September, inclusive." David 

 Campbell, fish merchant, Salen, " would restrict the close time to 

 " July and August." David Sproat, Procurator Fiscal, Tober- 

 mory : — " The close time should be that of the old Act of 

 " George IT., from 1st June to 1st September. Neil Macquarrie, 

 fish merchant, Tobermory: — " If there is to be a close time 

 " would restrict it to the months of J uly and August." Lastly, 

 Mr. Hugh Maclachlan, fish merchant, Glasgow, who has probably 

 had the longest experience in the lobster trade of any man in 

 Scotland, " Would have the fishing season to extend from 

 " 1st October to 1st May, and would have the rest of the year 

 " close time. . . . Is of opinion that the close time suggested would 

 •' not interfere with the productiveness of the fishings on the 

 " west coast of the Long Island, and of the other Outer Hebrides, 

 " because the lobsters caught in these places during the warm 



