12 



CRABS. 

 Gauge. 



reach to the bottom of the sea ; or they would catch nothing. All crabs, 

 whether male or female, under 6 inches, and all lobsters under 8| inches, 

 should be returned to the sea. If this is not done the fishing will soon be 

 ruined. 



Richard Collins (cousin to R. Collins, examined at Falmouth). Agrees 

 that fish are becoming scarcer, and would have all crabs, male or female, under 

 6 inches, thrown back. The size proposed by the former fishermen, 5| inches 

 for males, and 5 inches for females, is too small. Richard Collins, of Falmouth, 

 is not a crabber. 



N.B. — There were three other witnesses in the room, all of whom agreed with 

 the above evidence. 



School Eoom, Durgan, Saturday, 16th September 1876. 



Decrease. 



LOBSTERS. 



Decrease. 

 Gaxige. 



CRABS. 



Gauge. 



Spatvning. 



Garige 



Bait. 

 LOBSTERS. 



Gauge. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Joseph Tresize (examined by Mr. Walpole). Is 65 years of age. Has been 

 fishing 30 years, and has fished for crabs all that time. Nine or ten boats go 

 out crabbing together. This is about the' same number as when he began. Crabs 

 are not so thick now as they used to be. There are more boats after the crabs 

 than there were 30 years ago, and he thinks there are too many boats fishing, 

 and that crabs are over-fished. Lobsters are getting scarce also. Does not know 

 what could be done unless the fishing were stopped altogether. It would be a 

 good thing to put back all small lobsters. Messrs. Scovell, from Hamble, 

 will not take any he crabs under 6 inches, nor females under 5 inches. He 

 sends the small crabs to London. Thinks it would be right to stop the 

 capture of she crabs under 5 inches, and he crabs under 6 inches. Would like 

 this scale enforced. Merchants will take lobsters of any size. It would be a 

 good plan to leave the small lobsters to grow. Cannot fix any size. Thinks 

 it would be a good plan to throw back berried hens. It would be a loss, but 

 he would consent to the loss if all others did the same. Believes all the 

 Durgan fishermen throw back crabs in spawn, but many of them are taken. 



(By Mr. Buckland.) Does not know when he sees most spawning crabs. 

 Messrs. Scovell buy berried hens, and any other lobsters he can get. Has 

 caught a lobster weighing 13 lbs. Could not send fish to London if it were 

 not for the railway. Can sell as much as he can catch. Always throws away 

 spawning crabs. 



James James. Has lived at Durgan 21 or 22 years, and has fished for crabs 

 all the time. There are fewer crabs than there were 20 years ago ; lobsters 

 also are scarcer. Fish are about the same size as formerly. Cannot say why 

 crabs are scarcer. When he went fishing 20 years ago he caught three times 

 as many as he can catch now. Thinks all male crabs under 6 inches, and 

 female under 5 inches, should be put back into the sea. This should be done 

 to enable them to grow. He crabs are large crabs, but there are not so many 

 of them as there used to be. They are mostly caught outside the bay. The 

 pots set first are taken in in July on account of the trawlers. Uses thornbacks, 

 bibs, and other fish for bait. Never uses young crabs for bait, only spider 

 crabs. Never smashes up edible crabs. Never returns any lobsters to the 

 sea, and does not catch more than one or two lobsters under 5 inches. The 

 average size is from 9 to 11 inches. Catches very few under 9 inches. It 

 would be no hardship to put back lobsters under 8| inches. Catches about 

 100 lobsters in a season. One in ten might be under 8| inches. Does not see 

 that anything can be done but to put back any "seed" crabs, which the 

 fishermen do now. 



Henry Pascoe. Has been fishing 20 years, and crabbing every summer 

 during that time. Crabs and lobsters are decreasing : they are over-fished. 

 Would agree to throw back all he crabs under 6 inches, and she crabs under 



