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William Benjamin Fisher {examined by Mr. Walpole). Fish-salesman ^ 0B ^ <J • 



at Billingsgate. Over 20 years in business, and has been dealing in crabs and 



lobsters, chiefly in Norway lobsters. Has been dealing in Norway lobsters Norwegian. 



during the whole period. The Norway close season commences on the 15th 



July as far north as Bergen, and north of Bergen on the 1st August. The 



close season terminates at the end of August for the whole country. He 



commences sending for the lobsters to Norway very early in the spring. Has 



sent in the autumn months, but considered it such an injury to the fisheries 



that he gave it up. Tried for three seasons, but it destroyed the spring 



fishery, and gave it up. Thinks the Norwegian fisheries ought to be closed Close time. 



throughout the autumn. There are very few lobsters caught in Norway in the 



autumn. At this time of the year 6',000 to 8,000 lobsters a week are received 



at Billingsgate from Norway. Only one part of the Norwegian coast is 



fished. 



Begins to send for the Norwegian lobsters in March and April. The 

 season is later as you get further north. Sends over welled smacks, and 

 contracts for the whole take. The Norwegian lobsters are caught in 

 coops. The supply has fallen off during the last seven years, and he attri- Decrease. 

 butes this to the autumn fishing. 10 or 12 years ago used to have about 

 600,000 lobsters a year from Norway, from three districts only. Is now 

 working six districts (double the amount of coast), and the six districts only 

 produced last year from 400,000 to 500,000 lobsters. There has been therefore 

 a very serious falling off in Norway. The matter has been before the Nor- 

 wegian Parliament now for three years running. A 7-inch lobster in Norway 

 is full price. Under that size half price. Believes that there is no gauge for 

 lobsters in Norway. Out of 100 Norwegian lobsters not 20 per cent, are 

 under the 7 inches. Heard Mr. Poland's recommendation of a 4-inch gauge Gauge. 

 in the barrel. This would be about 8 inches in length. There would be 

 thousands of Norwegian lobsters under this gauge. Would not object to the 

 institution of this gauge, but it would be a serious thing to the Norwegian 

 fishermen. In his judgment the Norwegian lobster is smaller than the Scotch. 

 Does not get 10 percent, of large lobsters. A two to three pound fish is a 

 fair Norway lobster. Thinks a 8-inch gauge would be too large for Norway ; 

 7| inches would be quite sufficient. Would agree to a 7i inch gauge. 



"Lobsters in a favourable passage reach Billingsgate from Norway in four 

 days. In hot weather there is great mortality, and consequent waste. 



Gets very few berried lobsters from Norway. Doesn't know the reason Berried. 

 of this. 



There are a great many lobsters come from France. They come from the French. 

 Cherbourg coast and south of it. Thinks that perhaps 200,000 lobsters come 

 to London from France. The quality of the French lobster is not good; 

 these come by boat to Southampton, and thence by train to London. The 

 lobster fishery in France is principally in the autumn — June, July, August, 

 September. In August the French allow no berried hens to be taken, and 

 the fishermen during that month scrape out the berries. The French lobsters spawning. 

 are in season at the very time when the Norwegian lobsters are out of season. 

 A French lobster in October would be a good fish, a Norwegian lobster watery. 

 It is utterly impossible, therefore, to institute any close season in the 

 London market applicable to all places and all localities. 



A few lobsters also come from Sweden. The Sweden season is rather earlier Swedish. 

 than the Norwegian season ; and the Sweden fishery is being extinguished 

 through the autumn fishing. 



The proper remedy for Norway is to close the Norwegian fishery in the Close time. 

 autumn, and this therefore is probably the right course in the Hebrides, where 

 the fishermen wish to close the autumn fishing. 



It would be very difficult to enforce local seasons. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) A 3 lb. Norway lobster is a fair size, 



George Stevenson (examined by Mr. Buckland). Fish merchant at CRABS. 

 Billingsgate. Has been established on his own account for 40 years. The 

 crabs come chiefly from the West of England, and a very few small ones from 

 Scotland. The crabs have fallen off very much both in size and in number. Decrease. 

 The falling off began 20 years ago, and has been progressive. Used to buy 

 large crabs from 7s. to 9s. a turn; they are now 15s. Cannot tell the cause 

 of the falling off, but thinks it is due to over-fishing. By over-fishing, means 



