XX 



Dogs at Hall 

 Sands. 



Trawling. 



The Norfolk 

 Act of 1876. 



sarily be carried out locally. But, though it may be difficult to en- 

 force on the coast a law of gauge, there is no difficulty in enforcing 

 on the coast a law of close season. It would require an officer 

 in every boat to see that no crab under a certain size was taken ; 

 but it would not require an officer in every village to see that 

 no creels were being used. The coastguard could easily enforce 

 a local close season ; and, should local close seasons be in any case 

 hereafter instituted, the coastguard might be instructed to 

 enforce them. 



There are two other matters to which we'must shortly refer": — 



1st. The fishermen at Hall Sands keep four or five Newfoundland 

 dogs for the purpose of carrying lines from the shore to the boats 

 in rough weather. The surf is so heavy in certain winds, that 

 the only possible way of landing is for the boat to be drawn 

 through the surf by the friends of the fishermen on shore, by means 

 of the lines which the dogs take out to them. The fishermen 

 think it a very great hardship that these dogs should be taxed. 

 We promised to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government 

 to this matter, and we have accordingly noticed it here. 



2nd. On almost every part of the coast we heard complaints 

 from crab fishermen against the trawlers. The crabbers assert that 

 the trawlers injure them in two v/ays : 1st, by destroying a 

 great many berried crabs and soft crabs ; 2nd, by sweeping 

 away their tackle. The first complaint we hope we have suffi- 

 ciently met by our previous recommendations that no berried 

 crabs and no soft crabs should be sold. The second we do not feel 

 ourselves authorised to enter into in any detail. We think it, 

 however, our duty to say that the complaints against the inshore 

 trawlers, for injuring both the crab and lobster and other 

 fisheries, are so loud and so universal that, in our judgment, 

 it is most desirable that they should be investigated. If they are 

 just, they ought to be redressed ; if they are unjust, the trawlers 

 ought to have the opportunity of explaining their injustice. 



The recommendations which we have made in the preceding 

 pages in many cases supplement the law which was passed for the 

 control of the Norfolk crab and lobster fisheries in the Session of 

 1876.* In other respects they are inconsistent with that law. 

 The Norfolk Act instituted a 7-inch gauge for lobsters. We have 

 recommended an 8-inch gauge. We thought it our duty, there- 

 fore, to go down to Norfolk and confer with the fishermen on the 

 subject. We held a meeting, for the purpose, at Cromer, which 



* The following is a short analysis of the Norfolk Crab and Lobster Fisheries 

 Act : — 



I, It is illegal to take or have in possession or offer for sale, under a penalty of 5s. 

 for each offence, — 



1. Lobsters from 25th June to 25th July inclusive. 



2. Lobsters under 7 inches in length, excluding the horns. 



3. Lobsters carrying spawn or ova at any time. 

 4 .Crabs under A\ inches across the back. 



5. Crabs carrying spawn or ova at any time. 



II. The Act applies only to the sea coast of Norfolk, from Salthouse toMundesley 

 and for a distance of 3 miles from the shore. 



