LOBSTERS, shore. Can catch small crabs in and out. Small crabs are very numerous 



Norwegian. 

 Spawning. 



CRABS. 



No decrease. 



Gauge. 



LOBSTERS. 



Gauge. 



CRABS. 



LOBSTERS. 



Weather. 

 Norwegian. 



CRAY-FISH. 



Decrease. 



CRABS. 



Decrease. 



Price. 

 Spawning. 



Mr. Pawlyn's proposed 8-inch gauge for lobsters would take in all the 

 lobsters from Norway and Shetland, and stop all the trade with those countries, 

 Cannot get himself enougli large lobsters to get a living, and is obliged to 

 catch small ones. A few lobsters may come within shore to spawn. If the 

 capture of berried hens were stopped the fishermen would not get a living 

 by lobster fishing. The little crabs get out of the pots. He throws overboard 

 all small crabs under 5 inches across. As the fishermen do throw overboard 

 all the small crabs now, a law to compel them to do so would make no 

 practical difference. 



Norway lobsters are under 8 inches, or about that size. They are a very 

 small lobster. Thinks big crabs are as plentiful as ever. 



David Paton. Lives at Gorran, and has been crabbing for 12 years. Thinks 

 he has taken as many crabs this year as ever, and there are more now than 

 any other year. The end of the season has been the best for 12 years. Sells 

 his crabs to Mr. Pawlyn. There is no decrease in the number. Has sold 

 more in previous years, but has sold them to other people this year. Mr. 

 Pawlyn took his fish up to the end of June or July, and after that they were 

 sold to other people. Hence Mr. Pawlyn knew nothing about it. Agrees 

 with Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Billing that all " shes " under 5 inches, and all 

 " hes " under 5| inches should be thrown away. Thinks this would make 

 crabs more plentiful. These small crabs are sold now as two for one. Lobsters 

 are just as plentiful as ever. Would like to turn away all lobsters under 6 

 inches long. These small lobsters are sold now, but not often taken. There 

 are so few lobsters under 6 inches caught that it would not be worth while to 

 make a law to affect them. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) Small she crabs breed. Throwing back the small crabs 

 would increase the breeding stock. When he sees crabs with seed they are 

 generally small ones. Large he crabs are 13 inches. Large females are 9 

 inches. Living is bad now, and must not be made worse. 



Richard Climo. Lives at Gorran Haven. Thinks lobster seasons vary. There 

 are more boats now than there used to be, and they catch more fish altogether, 

 but less per boat. Used to go lobstering 40 or 50 years ago at Polruan. 

 There was then only one boat, to work five or six miles of ground, now there 

 are 10 or 12 boats on the same ground. In the old times there were good 

 years and bad years, and there are good years and bad years now. The finer 

 the weather the better the lobsters. 



Was in Norway during the Russian war 20 years ago. The people brought 

 lobsters on board for sale. They were all small, 9 inches and under. Never saw 

 a lobster of 11 inches in Norway. Thinks the Norway lobsters are generally 

 a smaller kind than ours. They are the bright blue lobsters. Has seen lobster 

 the length of his finger ; they have been thrown away as too small. The small 

 lobsters generally go through the pots. The small ones are generally caught 

 in bait pots, the ribs of which are much closer together. All lobsters caught 

 in a lobster pot are marketable. 



There used to be cray-fish at Fowey, and they were very plentiful. They 

 are very scarce now. Thinks they go in shoals. 



John Hunkin. Lives at Mevagissey. Is 73 years old. Is a fisherman. 

 Has been a mariner, and has not been crab fishing since he was 18 years old. 

 There were three boats at Mevagissey then. Used to go to the ground where 

 the Gorran men now go, but never fished in deep water or above a mile 

 from shore. Crabs were very plentiful. Used to fish with 100 pots and some- 

 times had 50, 20, 12, or 10 large crabs a day. These were crabs upwards 

 of 8 inches across. Used to throw away all she crabs. There was no sale 

 for the she crabs. Does not know whether it would be possible to catch 

 as many crabs now; but thinks they are decreasing. Large crabs are 

 scarcer. There are more than double the number of boats. Crabs used to be 

 8s. a dozen of 26, and the price fell in May to 6s. per dozen. The railway has 

 opened up a larger market, and the increased price recently may be due to it. 

 A large crab which sold when he was a boy for 6d. or 4c?. would be worth 2s. 6d. 

 Agree? with proposal to throw back small crabs. Has caught berried lobsters 

 in May and June, ready to spawn. Has also caught she crabs. 



Thomas Pollard. Has been in the crab and lobster trade three years. 



