herring season began, i.e., till the end of June or middle of July. Started chads. 

 this year early in October; thinks this a bad plan. In everyday when he 

 began there were 10 to 50 crabs in every net, and in some nets all the crabs 

 were bad ; the great majority were soft. Only got one barrel of crabs out of s °f f - 

 the whole take. This ought not to be allowed. 



Has always flung small crabs away, and is in favour of returning all under Gauge. 

 4£ inches. The small lobsters escape through the mesh of the creel. Would L0JjSTER ' 

 toss away all under 4 inches in the barrel. Gauge. 



John Dawson {examined by Mr. BucUand). Of North Sunderland. Has 

 been fishing 24 years. Has heard previous evidence. There are just as many 

 crabs caught now as ever, but there are more fishermen and more gear to take 

 them. Agrees that small crabs should be returned to the water, and also 

 small lobsters. Agrees that there should be a close time. Fishing should Close time. 

 commence in February, and end at the close of June. Thinks the fishermen 

 would obey such a close season. 



N.B. — Before the close of the inquiry some small crabs (the largest 4£ inches) CRABS, 

 were produced. The fishermen were unanimous in thinking the largest of " — 



these too small to be taken, and were in favour of a 4^-inch gauge. Gauge. 



School Buildings, Cullercoats, Wednesday, 15th November 1876. 



Present: 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Robert Carr {examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Cullercoats. A fisherman 

 and fish dealer. Fourteen years in business, and about 32 years fishing for crabs 

 and lobsters. The crab and lobster ground extends three miles north, one mile 

 south, and two miles out to sea. There are about 30 boats at Cullercoats fishing 

 for crabs and lobsters. Commences fishing for shell fish about the 1st April; Season. 

 continues till the beginning of July, when the herring season commences. 

 Lobster fishing is resumed in October, lasts for about a month, and is not 

 again resumed till the following April. The fishing is entirely with creels, 

 which are here called pots. Pots have been in use ever since he can recollect. p ts. 

 The shell fish go to London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, and 

 Shields. 



Crabs have fallen off since he has been engaged in the fishery. During the 

 last 14 years the crabs have fallen off one half. The decrease is in number ; Decrease. 

 there is not much difference in their size. Cannot say what the decrease is 

 attributable to. It did not commence before 14 years ago. Cannot account 

 for it. Crabs 14 years ago were 2s. 6d. a score ; they are now 4s. Price. 



There are not a great many lobsters taken on this coast. Thinks they are LOBSTERS, 

 decreasing too. There are not so many landed per boat as there were. Cannot 

 account for this, except that there are more boats fishing for them. Twenty- Decrease. 

 eight years ago there were only 21 boats, now there are 42. The boats carried Boats. 

 28 years ago, and carry now, three men and a boy each. They carry now 

 36 creels each, and used to carry about 24 creels 28 years ago. There are 

 twice as many boats as there were 28 years ago, and each boat carries one 

 third more tackle. The increase in the boats has been taking place gradually. 

 Thinks that this increase in the number of fishermen may have some con- 

 nexion with the decrease in the supply of fish. Thinks that the fish have 

 been over-thinned by the increased fishing. Thinks that the fishermen take 

 too small fish. It would be a good thing to require the return of all fish 

 under a certain size to the sea. Thinks that any crab under 4 inches should Gauge. 

 be returned. A full-size lobster is 4| inches in the barrel. Under that size LOBSTERS, 

 they go two for one. Would agree to return all lobsters under 4 inches in the c 

 barrel. Very few lobsters are caught in October. The soft crabs caught are ge ' 

 put over alive. In October only the old men fish. Does not think the 

 October fishing is an injury. 



