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Scotland in the hot weather. Gets lobsters from all round the Scotch coast, LOBSTERS. 



especially from the Hebrides and the Orkneys. A good many from the 



mainland from Thurso to Skye, and from Stornoway, Tarbert, Lochmaddy, 



Ben Becula, and South Uist. Some of the Hebrides lobsters always die. 



These are those out of season. The mortality arises chiefly among the lobsters 



which are stored in ponds, both in Stornoway and Tarbert. Has never refused 



to receive store lobsters. But the pond lobsters are half starved and lighter Kept in ponds. 



than the others. Has a pond at Heme Bay himself. Has 2,000 lobsters 



there, has kept them there two months. They don't deteriorate enough to 



make it desirable to prohibit the ponds. The lobsters are stored to supply 



London in stormy weather. 



Thinks legislation for lobsters is very greatly required. A gauge is very Gauge. 

 necessary. No lobster under 8 inches should be sold. Is in favour of pre- 

 serving the berried hens. The berried hen is the most valuable of all lobsters, 

 but not for the market, except during the London season. If the sale of 

 berried hens were prohibited, fishermen would be tempted to remove the scried. 

 berries. But a practical man could always detect whether the berries had been 

 removed. It would, however, be impossible to distinguish between a berried 

 hen which had just shot her berries, and a berried hen whose berries had been 

 removed artificially. Under all circumstances is, however, in favour of pro- 

 hibiting the sale of berried lobsters. 



Thinks the berried lobster more valuable than the lobster with coral in her. 

 The cooks, if they can't get the berries, will have to take the coral. 



Lobsters are very thin in June, July, ana August. This applies to West of 

 England lobsters; but it is impossible to make a close season. There are 

 always good lobsters among the bad ones. 



Crabs come from all round the coast except Wales. The supply is falling CRABS. 



off, especially in the West of England. There are two species of edible crabs ; t 



the West of England crab is a large crab ; the east coast crab is a small crab. decrease. 

 A gauge that would suit the West of England would not suit the East coast. 

 Thinks that no crab under 5 inches should be taken or sold. It should be Gauge. 

 illegal also to sell crabs with spawn under the tail. Many crabs in spawn % err i e a. 

 come to the London market. 



(By Mr. BucMand.) The small lobsters come from Bognor and Skye. Their 

 sale should be prohibited. The crabs live better when they are packed close 

 together. It would be very difficult to enforce the return of berried hens. 

 Cray-fish are dying out ; they come from the Cornish coast and Scilly. They CRAY-FISH 

 frequently have them full of spawn, and these he thinks ought not to be — - 



sold. The cray-fish trade is quite as important as the lobster trade. Cray- Decrease. 

 fish are dearer than lobsters. They are 2s. to 2s. 6d. each when the average p ice 

 size. Never heard that the cray-fish are a migrating fish ; they can always be 

 caught in Scilly. Thinks that no cray-fish under 10 inches should be taken. Gauge. 

 Has bought 150 cray-fish at 9c?. ; they are now 2s. anc? 2s. 6d. each. 



Crabs shoot their shells in the spring time. The soft crabs ought not to be CRABS. 



sent to London, but returned to the water uninjured. This is very important 



to the crabs and to the London tradesmen. There are a large number of them °^ ' 

 come in the spring of the year from Cornwall. The Scotch crabs come the 

 same way, but they are not so important. 



John Samuel, Second Warden of the Fishmongers' Company. The Enforcement 

 powers of the Company are derived from the Charter 2 James I., 30th August of law. 

 1604. Will read the portion of the Charter conferring the powers of seizure 

 of unwholesome fish : — 



"And moreover we will, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, 

 we grant, to the same Wardens and Commonalty of the mistery of Fishmongers 

 of the city of London, and to their successors. That the same Wardens and 

 the Assistants of the mistery of Fishmongers of the city of London aforesaid, 

 and their successors which for the time shall be, from time to time hereafter for 

 ever shall have, make, and use within the city of London and within the 

 liberties and suburbs of the same, and within our borough of Southwark 

 aforesaid, at all convenient times, the full and entire survey, search, govern- 

 ment, and correction of all and singular persons, denizens, and strangers, 

 and of all others whatsoever, of whatsoever art or mistery they shall be selling, 

 or having, possessing, or keeping to sell, any salted fish, salted herrings, fresh 

 fish of the sea, salmons, stock fish, or any other fishes whatsoever, within the 



