24 



Close time. 



with rocks and patches of sand to the east. Sometimes the pots get into pits 

 among the rocks and are lost. 



There are six or seven boats at Fowey. No boats have more than seven or 

 eight strings of pots ; say 64 pots each, or 354 pots in all. The close season 

 should extend from October 1st to March 1st. 



CRABS. 



Decrease. 



Gauge. 



Berried. 



LOBSTERS. 



Gauge. 

 Berried. 



Plugging. 

 Boiling. 



Norwegian. 

 Gauge. 



Fishmongers' Hall, London, Wednesday, 1st November 1876. 



Present : 



Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Charles Poland {examined by Mr. Buckland). Deals in crabs and lobsters 

 among other things ; has been in business 20 years. Crabs have fallen off to a 

 slight extent in number. The falling off commenced about 10 years ago; but 

 during the last 10 years the number has remained stationary. The crabs are as 

 large as ever; the decrease is in number. Gets a great many small crabs from 

 Craster, Boulmer, Newbiggin, Chat Hill, Bilton, and other places in Northum- 

 berland. Obtains lobsters from all over Scotland, especially from the Hebrides 

 and the Orkneys ; they are being caught all along the Ayrshire coast. 

 Lobsters come from Cullercoats, and some small ones from Dunbar. The size 

 of crabs remains about the same ; the price remains the same. Gets very fine 

 lobsters from Ireland, but very few crabs. Plenty of lobsters come from Skye. 

 Is in favour of a gauge both for lobsters and crabs. Doesn't buy crabs two 

 for one in London. A gauge of 5^ inches would seriously interfere with the 

 crab fishery in Scotland. The Scotch crabs are a smaller race than the west 

 coast crabs. The 5-inch crabs might be returned to the water. It would be 

 an advantage to have these crabs returned all over England. Rarely gets 

 crabs in spawn. It would be an advantage to have these spawn crabs returned. 

 The fishermen might, however, have little compunction in taking off the 

 spawn. There are not many soft crabs sent to the London market. Has 

 seen lobsters 10 lbs. in weight. The smallest lobsters come from Ayrshire. 

 A lobster 2|- inches in the barrel (produced) is too small for the market, and 

 ought to be put back. The small lobsters from Bognor are caught in the 

 prawn pots more from accident than design. Is of opinion that no lobster 

 should be taken under 4 inches in the barrel. Gets a fair quantity of berried 

 lobsters in the course of the year. They come from some districts in the 

 spring, from others in the summer, and from others in the autumn. They are 

 more rare in the winter. It would be an advantage to put back the berried 

 hens ; but thinks the fishermen would take out the berries. Berried hens are 

 sought for at times in the London market, and at other times are a drug. The 

 berries are used for colouring sauce and decorating fish. The cooks are 

 anxious to have the berries. It would be difficult to obtain a substitute if the 

 sale of berried hens were prohibited. Irish lobsters come plugged to Billings- 

 gate ; but it is very rare to have them plugged from other districts. Plugging 

 has the effect of causing great anguish, and of ultimately killing the lobster. 

 Never heard (except from report) of crabs being put into cold water and gra- 

 dually boiled. Gets a large supply of lobsters from Norway from and after 

 midsummer. They come over invariably alive in welled vessels. Has seen 

 lobsters packed in charcoal. It is very easy to distinguish a Norwegian lobster 

 from an English and Scotch lobster. The English lobsters are speckled ; the 

 Norway lobsters are very brilliant in colour without any speckles. Does not 

 know what gives the colour to a Norway lobster when it is boiled. Is not in 

 favour of a close season, because the seasons in Scotland and England are so 

 very varied. Only recommends a 5-inch gauge for crabs, and a 4-inch gauge 

 in the barrel for lobsters. It would be perfectly easy, if the sale of berried hens 

 were made illegal, for the fishermen to remove the berries at sea. It would be 

 possible for these berries, if placed in certain places, to prove prolific. They 

 distinguish the sex of crabs in Billingsgate by calling them king and queen 

 crabs. There is a close season for lobsters in Norway ; but it is not strictly 

 observed. 



