the merchants should not take them. The merchants only now take lobsters LOBSTERS 

 under 4^ inches as two to one. Has known lobsters killed by storms in very 

 heavy seas, but not many. 



James Archibald (examined by Mr. Walpole). A fisherman at Craster, 

 Has been 41 years crab-catching - . Craster is about 8 or 9 miles south of 

 North Sunderland. The crab ground extends off Craster 4 miles south, 

 3 north, and 4 to 5 seawards. There are not above 15 boats from Craster, but 

 they have had 18 or 1.9. They have had many losses of life at sea, which have 

 diminished the number of boats. When he was a lad there were about a dozen Boats. 

 boats out of Craster. When he was a lad began crab and lobster fishing before 

 December and ended at the close of May. The Craster men still keep to this Close time. 

 old custom ; but at Boulmer, Newton, and Beadnell he believes that the creels 

 have been shot already, i.e. November. Thinks this is an injury to the fishery. 

 Thinks the lobsters migrate from one ground to the other, and that the unsea- ^iffratiop. 

 sonable fishing at one place affects the fishery in other places. There is not one 

 crab or lobster now for 20 when he was a lad. When he was a lad could, with 

 his present tackle, have got 50 score crabs in a night. The most they ever got Decrease. 

 last year was 22 score in one day. Never caught 30 lobsters in a day in his 

 life. 12 would have been the average catch 40 years ago. There is many a 

 day now when the boats won't average three lobsters- Does not think the 

 average for the season would be more than three. 



The crabs were the first to fall off. This failure began about 25 years ago. CRABS. 

 The lobsters began to fall off about the same time. Thinks the decrease was j) eCYe ^T 

 due to excessive fishing. There was a great increase of fishermen about that 

 time. The railways had been made a few years before. Thinks that there are 

 not merely more fishermen to divide the take among, but that the crabs have 

 decreased in number. Thinks the proper remedy is a close season for crabs 

 and lobsters. The close season should commence on the 1st June and end on Close time. 

 the 30th November. This is the universal opinion at Craster. The coast- 

 guard could enforce the law. 



Thinks also that the little crabs and lobsters should be put back. A 4-inch Gauge. 

 gauge might do. A 4-inch gauge in the barrel might also do for lobsters. 



George Dawson (examined by Mr. Buckland). A fisherman of Craster for 

 40 years. Has heard Mr. Archibald's evidence. Agrees with him that crabs 

 and lobsters are falling off. When first he went fishing they had nothing but Decrease. 

 iron rings ; they now use creels. Agrees with a close season commencing on 

 1st June and ending 30th November. Thinks the Scotch crabs are larger 

 than the Northumberland crabs. Thinks that all crabs under 4 inches should 

 be returned to the sea. Will agree to a 4-inch barrel gauge for lobsters if all Gauge. 

 the rest will do so. Crabs are capital bait for lobsters, but not for crabs. Has Used for bait. 

 broken up crabs as bait for codling. It is a good bait. There are very few 

 crabs, however, used as bait at Craster. The haddocks are caught with 

 mussels, which they get from Stockton. In November more than half the crabs 

 are soft. The close season, if it were enacted, would save all the soft crabs. The Soft. 

 he crabs continue softer longer than the she. The "shes" cast their shells Casting shell* 

 in the height of summer. Cannot say how far crabs will travel. They crawl 

 most in thick water. The crab pots are baited with fish. The crabs are sent 

 away alive. The lobsters have their claws tied, not plugged. Has store places Store pots. 

 for keeping lobsters. They are called "hullies," i.e., boxes with holes. The 

 bottom of the sea is rocky, very little sand. In January they begin to fish in 

 22 to 23 fathoms water, and draw closer in shore from lobsters as the year Migration. 

 advances. 



William Mason (examined by Mr . Walpole). Has lived in North Sunder- 

 land for 13 years. Was bred and born at Craster. Has been a fisherman for 

 seven years for crabs and lobsters. Fished off Craster. Thinks the crabs are 

 increasing in number. Believes that there is a bigger tonnage of crabs sent Increase. 

 away than ever by North-eastern Railway. The station-masters at Chat Hill 

 and at Christon Bank so informed him. Thinks, also, lobsters are increasing. 

 Thinks that the cod are an enemy to the crabs. Enemies. 



Does not think that any legislation is necessary, except that he is in favour 

 of a close season. The fishing season should begin on the 1st February and Close time. 

 end the last of May for lobsters, and last of June for crabs. The question of 

 size should be left to merchants and fishermen of the crabs, but all lobsters 

 under 4 inches in the barrel should be hove away. A 5-inch crab is a large crab. Gauge. 



p 2 



