LOBSTERS. 



Spawning. 



Pots. 

 Bait. 



CRABS. 



Used for bait. 



No decrease. 



Gauge. 



Spawning. 



Increase. 



LOBSTERS. 



Increase. 



Price. 



CRABS. 



Decreased size. 



Gauge. 



Price. 



berried hens are caught. The only way to make them more plentiful is to 

 prohibit their capture in deep water, but this would be beyond territorial 

 limits and could not be enforced. There are so few berried hens caught that 

 it is not worth while putting them back. No berried hens are under 10| 

 inches, and that is very rare,, they are usually above 11 inches. Very few 

 undersized lobsters are taken. Calls small lobsters those under 6 inches. 

 Lobsters do not breed when they are small. Does not think it would do to 

 have a gauge for lobsters. Crab and lobster pots are identical, and crabs and 

 lobsters are sometimes taken in the same pot. The same bait does for both. 

 Fresh fish is the best bait, and neither crabs nor lobsters will go in unless there 

 is some smell in the fish. 



The fishermen break up crabs as bait for wrasse, &c, but not for crabs. 

 Thinks the fishermen would not generally break up the small crabs for bait. 

 The spider crabs are generally used for this purpose, and are as good a bait as 

 the common crabs. 



James Billing, of Gorran Haven {examined by Mr. BucJcland). Has been 

 crab fishing for 40 years. The crabs are not less numerous than they were 40 

 years ago. They vary in certain seasons. There are now more fishermen in 

 search of them, and so they may not catch so much per boat. 40 years ago 

 there were five or six boats; there are now 24 boats, and yet there are as many 

 crabs as ever. The sizes are the same now as formerly. There are as many 

 large crabs as there used to be. Does not think a close season for crabs 

 necesssary, as there is a natural close season. Thinks little crabs should be 

 put back into the water. Would keep all crabs 5-i- inches across, and throw 

 overboard those of 5 inches and under. Agrees with Mr. Pomeroy as to a 

 gauge of 5 inches for females and 5^ inches for males. Never sees any " seeding 

 crabs " (berried hens) except in spring, and then only a very few. He throws 

 overboard " seeding crabs." This is generally done. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) Thinks there is no decrease in the number of crabs, but 

 wants legislation because little crabs could grow into big ones. There are 

 now 24 boats where there used formerly to be only six, and the 24 boats catch 

 more than the six. More little crabs, as well as big ones, are taken. There 

 are more crabs caught now than there were 40 years ago. Does not think there 

 were more big crabs in the sea 40 years ago then there are now. 



The fishermen catch as many lobsters now as they did 40 years ago. As 

 they get more money per lobster, each boat earns more money. There is no 

 decrease in the number of lobsters 5 in fact, though there are 24 boats instead 

 of six, his boat catches more lobsters than it did 40 years ago. He used to go 

 out about the 14th January, Now he goes out close on Christmas. Does not 

 think it necessary to have any legislation for lobsters. Agrees with Mr. 

 Pomeroy's evidence as to the price of lobsters. 40 years ago lobsters were 

 sold at 7s. a dozen above 11 inches in length. Below that size two lobsters 

 counted as one. 



Thomas Ley. Is 73 years of age, Lives at Mevagissey. Has been 

 crabbing for 12 or 14 years. This was 50 years ago 5 but recollects crab 

 fishing for 63 years past. In the interim has been seining. There are not so 

 many large crabs as there used to be, but there are more small crabs. When 

 he was a boy he caught 20, 30, or 40 large crabs, measuring 8 inches across, 

 a day. This was with 40 pots ; now with 40 pots he would not catch more than 

 three or four. Thinks the large crabs have got scarcer because there are so 

 many boats after them. 55 years ago there were five boats, now there is not 

 one from Mevagissey, but the Gorran men fish there. Does not himself go 

 crabbing now, and cannot tell what Gorran men catch. When he said they 

 caught three or four crabs a day, it was from hearsay. The crabs brought to 

 market now are not so large as they used to be. The crabs come to the 

 ground from deep water. The fishermen cannot fish out of the ground. 

 There is very little trawling off Mevagissey because the ground is rough — rocky 

 and stony. Rough ground is favourable for breeding crabs. Would prohibit 

 the capture of all crabs under 5 inches. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) His evidence relates to 50 years ago. His evidence as to 

 crabs now is hearsay evidence. There was no law about crabs when he was a 

 lad. Crabs when he was a boy were 8s. a " long dozen " of 26, from 

 March to May ; after May they were 6s. a dozen of 26. This was 50 years 

 ago. 



