27 



Some of the Irish lobsters are now plugged, but very few lobsters are LOBSTERS, 

 plugged now. It has fallen out of use, since Sir Peter Laurie took the matter pi uq „i nQ 

 up. The practice is very cruel, and deteriorates the fish. None but a fool 

 would boil crabs in cold water. Many of them are stabbed before they are 

 boiled. It is impossible to legislate on this subject. Boiling. 



{By Mr. Walpole.) Doesn't recommend a close season for lobsters. Does 

 not think it necessary. The lobsters are equally good all through the year. 

 Receives good crabs in the London markets during the autumn. There are Season for. 

 good crabs all the year round. Is not aware of the 9 Geo. II. c. 3',i, fixing a 

 close season for Scotch lobsters. There is no difficulty in bringing the crabs CRABS, 



alive from Scotland, but they don't pay the cost of carriage. The Portree £ C0 ^ 

 crabs are of an inferior sort. It is impossible to get any statistics of the 

 value of the lobster and crab trade. 



The turn of lobsters used to be from 1/. to 3/. ; it would be now 5/. to 8/. LOBSTERS. 

 The increase of price has not been so marked with crabs ; a Is. crab now j> r i ce% 

 fetches Is. 6d. or Is. 9d. The increase in the price of lobsters is due to the 

 falling off in the supply of foreign lobsters. It is not due to the increased 

 population. The take of our own coasts has not fallen off; but the lobsters 

 are more distributed over the country. As over fishing has led to a decrease 

 of foreign lobsters, it may lead to a decrease of our own supply, but this has 

 not come yet, and the gauge is a sufficient remedy. 



James Harvey {examined by Mr. Walpole). Shell fish merchant, of Fleet 

 Street. Deals largely in crabs and lobsters. Is a retailer. Prefers Norwegian Norwegian. 

 lobsters to all others. Scotch the next. English (British) third, and won't 

 take the Jersey and French lobsters if he can help it, they are always watery. 

 The Irish lobsters are very good. The Norwegian lobsters stop in August and 

 don't come in again till Christinas. The English, Scotch, and other lobsters Season for. 

 arrive all the .year round. There are always some lobsters very light, but 

 there is no particular period of the year when the lobster is in bad condition. 

 There are berried hens all the year round. The Skye saying, " that lobsters 

 are not good unless there is an R in the month," is not true here. There are 

 about 15 boxes of Scotch lobsters to a couple of shiploads of Norwegians. The 

 Cornish are the worst lobsters ; but the finest crabs. The Cornish lobsters Cornish. 

 are not good at any time of the year. They waste in the boiling, and are full 

 of water. All along the English Channel the lobsters are delicious. Thinks 

 that no lobster ought to be sold under 10 inches in length. (4f in barrel), Gauge. 

 and is not apprahensive of this or the Norwegian trade. The Norfolk gauge 

 of 7 inches would be considered in London "worst Nancy." A turn consists Mode of 

 of 40 best Nancy's, 40 worst Nancy's, 40 best doubles, and a score and a half co ^nting. 

 of large lobsters. If he wants the turn of the large lobsters, he must also get 

 the turn of small ones. The merchants won't sell the big without the little. 



Does not think that crabs are decreasing generally ; has 400 a week, big and CRABS. 

 little. The price is rising, but this is due to the increased demand, and not to the p . 

 decreased supply. Sells nearly as many crabs in the winter as in the 

 summer, but most are sold in the summer in the hot weather. A cock crab 

 fetches double the price of a hen crab in the London market. Even among 

 crabs of the same size,- the cock fetches most. The hen crab is not such 

 good quality as the cock. In London people don't like the red meat, i.e., un- 

 developed spawn, which is so liked in Scotland. The West of England crabs 

 are the best. Is in favour of a 6-inch gauge for crabs. This, however, would Gauge. 

 be a serious injury to the Scotch fishermen. He, however, never buys Scotch 

 crabs if he can help it. Cock crabs are the best in the spring. Hen crabs 

 then are as light as a feather. The hen crabs would have the berries under 

 their tail in the beginning of December ; they then get under the rocks and 

 cannot be caught. This applies chiefly to English crabs. There is no time of 

 the year when both cock and hen crabs are both out of condition. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) Is aware that very small lobsters are sent from Norway. LOBSTERS. 

 The smallest are now about 7 inches. Small lobsters are also taken in the Gauge 

 prawn pots at Bognor and Selsea Bill. It would be very advisable to stop 

 these small lobsters being taken. 



Knows Hamble. The crabs and lobsters are kept therein boxes for the Store pots. 

 London market, and taken out as they are wanted. 



The hen crabs are not good in the spring, but cocks are then at the best. 

 Prefers cock crabs in the summer, but in August and September the hen crab 



