8 



CRABS. 



Gauge. 



LOBSTERS. 



Berried. 

 Gauge. 

 Close time. 



CRAY-FISH 



LOBSTERS. 



Spawning. 



Gauge. 



CRABS. 



Meat in. 



Decrease. 

 Boats. 



Price. 



Used for bait. 

 Gauge. 



be sizeable fish. The small crabbers would object to any close time. They 

 cannot fish during the hard weather. 



At Polperro, Mr. Laughrin, a coastguard officer, who was out with the 

 " Challenger," said the fishery had much degenerated, and that a protection 

 Act should be passed. The crab fishermen there are in favour of protection. 

 No crab less than 5 inches across should be taken, and there should be no 

 distinction between males and females. There is no regular time for lobsters 

 spawning; berried hens are caught all the year round. No lobsters should be 

 taken less than 7 inches long. August would be the best close time for 

 lobsters. Cray-fish should be protected. 



At Polruan, Joseph Climo, fish salesman, averred that there was a great 

 decrease in the number of crabs and lobsters on the Cornish coast. They are 

 much scarcer, and very small, owing to the pots being out all the year round 

 in some places. The fishermen would not object to a close season, if it were 

 in accordance with the natural law. The close time should commence on the 

 1st October and terminate on the 1st March. It would be a great advantage 

 to the fishermen to return all berried hens to the sea; but legislation on this 

 point would do no good, because the berries could be removed. Lobsters 

 under 6 inches, male crabs under 5 inches, and female crabs under 4 inches, 

 should be returned to the sea. Cray-fish require the same protection as crabs. 



At Penzance, Mr. John Bolitho said there should be a close time from 

 May to September, when lobsters are in spawn. Thousands of small crabs are 

 sent to London to make lobster sauce. The fishermen would not object to a 

 limit of 4i inches for crabs. Lobsters are rarely found under 8 inches. He 

 disapproves of all legislation for berried hens. Two fifths of all lobsters caught 

 are berried hens. 



At St. Ives, Mr. Rosewall says, the fishermen admit that fish have dimi- 

 nished in quantity rather than in size. The fishing commences at Mid- 

 summer and ends in September. A close season would be of no importance. 

 Berried hens are in great demand. No lobster less than 7 inches should be 

 taken. 



(By Mr. BucHand.) Thinks it would be impossible to have legislation about 

 berried hens ; any law on the subject would be evaded. The only thing to do 

 is to regulate the minimum size for lobsters and crabs ; it is essential that 

 there should be one size, which must apply to Billingsgate. Does not appre- 

 hend that small crabs would be broken up for bait. It is the practice on the 

 East and French coasts to use crabs for bait ; but not in Cornwall, unless there 

 is a deficiency of bait. Thinks, on the authority of Mr. T. Cornish, that every 

 fish should have one year of spawning maturity before it is saleable. Six 

 inches for lobsters would be equivalent to no size at all. Mr. Cornish says 

 the meat in a crab of 4£ inches weighs If oz. A crab of 7 inches in average 

 condition would contain 5 oz. of meat ; these weights are exclusive of the 

 cream. 



John Chard (examined by Mr. Walpole). Is a fishmonger in Falmouth. 

 Has been in business 16 years ; deals largely in shell fish, and has sent away 

 from 30 to 40 tons this season. Purchases them from fishermen on the coast 

 between Coverack and Gerran. Gets the whole take of these fishermen, and 

 has had men fishing for him for 16 years, and for his father 10 years previously. 

 The take of these men in crabs, lobsters, and every fish, is decreasing in 

 quantity. The size of the fish is not diminishing. Crabs are as large as ever. 

 The are not so many fishermen at the local fishing stations as there used to be. 

 There is a great decrease in the number of boats. At Porthscatho there are 

 four boats now, while there used to be eight ten years ago. This decline is due to 

 scarcity of fish. He used to pay 14s. per dozen of 26 ; now pays 26s. to 30s. 

 Two small crabs under 5i inches go for one. He used to pay lOd. or Is. for 

 she crabs ; now pays 2s. to 2s. 6d . The railway is partly the cause of this. 

 Sells fish on commission. Attributes the scarcity to the destruction of small 

 crabs and lobsters in pots and trammel nets. The watery crabs, not fit for 

 market, are crushed up and used for bait. What the fishermen cannot sell 

 they destroy. Sees no remedy short of appointing men to watch the pots for 

 white soft crabs. Trammels should be stopped during the first nine months 

 of the year. The Coastguard force might be employed to carry out the law. No 

 male crabs under 6\, or female crabs under 6 inches, or lobsters under 8-| inches 

 should be in anyone's possession. Crab pots with fine bars are made to catch 



