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day he went to sea. A 4 lb. lobster is a good lobster. This would be about LOBSTERS. 

 8 inches in the barrel. The average are about lib. in weight and about 4^ tf decrease. 

 inches in the barrel. Lobsters below 4 inches in the barrel go four for one, 

 and are very small then. Would be in favour of a law compelling the return 

 of all these. The Hawxley fishermen generally are in favour of this. Crabs Gauge. 

 and lobsters both resort to rocky ground, the harder the rock the better for 

 lobsters, and the best crabs also resort to hard rocks. Attributes the non- 

 decrease of the Hawxley fishery to returning the small fish and keeping a 

 close season. It has been the custom at Hawxley, all his time, to return all CRABS, 

 crabs under 4 inches, and, till the last five or six years, all lobsters under 

 4 inches. They stop fishing at Hawxley at the end of June, and resume at the Gauge. 

 beginning of October. They begin fishing at the end of October and go Close time. 

 on till June. There are many more boats fishing the Cullercoats than the 

 Hawxley ground. 



Thomas Oliver {examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Hawxley. Has 

 been fishing for 26 years. Heard Mr. Armstrong's and Mr. Brunton's 

 evidence ; agrees with it. Is in favour of a close season for crabs and lobsters, Close time. 

 from the 1st June to the 30th September. Is in favour of returning small Cauge. 

 crabs and lobsters. Agrees that the gauge should be 4 inches in the barrel for LOBSTERS, 

 lobsters, and 4 inches across the back for crabs. Has been in the habit of re- Gauge. 

 turning all fish under these sizes at Hawxley, and there is no decrease at 

 Hawxley. Was three years at Cullercoats before he went to Hawxley. Did not 

 return the small fish at Cullercoats"; could get a market for them there. The 

 Cullercoats ground is much harder fished than the Hawxley ground. The 

 ground at Cullercoats is smaller, and there are many more fishermen upon it. 



Thomas Bolam {examined by Mr. Buckland). Of Cullercoats. Has been 

 fishing for 22 years. There were more crabs and lobsters 22 years ago than Decrease. 

 there are now. Agrees with Mr. Lisle that the ground has been much affected 

 by the refuse tipped out from the hoppers, which has made rocky ground Pollutions. 

 smooth ground. The area of the crab and lobster ground has been diminished, 

 by the operations of the hoppers. The hoppers, when first they started (about 

 1856), deposited the stuff close in shore. The Commissioners have since found 

 it necessary to compel them to go further out. They have been at work about 

 20 years. The nature of the ground has been altered. The hoppers have 

 had the effect of extending the smooth ground, where it used to be rocky, for 

 four miles out to sea from Cullercoats to the southward. Is in favour of a Close time. 

 close season in July, August, and September, when the fish are soft and in 

 spawn. Is also in favour of a 4-inch gauge for crabs, and a 4-inch barrel Gauge. 

 gauge for lobsters. Thinks that the close season will be sufficient without a CRABS, 



law enforcing the return of berried hens. A berried hen always counts as a ' 



full fish, whatever size she may be. It was predicted when creels were intro- au ° e ' 

 duced, 34 years ago, that they would not leave a crab or lobster. They had, 

 however, no effect for some years ; but during the last eight years there has 

 not been one sixth part of the crabs caught that used to be taken. Yet the Decrease. 

 last year there are fewer crabs than ever. 



Increased fishing 34 years ago did not lead to any decrease offish. Decreased 

 fishing during the last eight years has not led to any increase of fish. 



Andrew Taylor {examined by Mr. Walpole). Of Cullercoats. Has been 

 fishing 40 years. • Agrees that crabs and lobsters have both decreased in 

 numbers. Cannot say what the decrease is clue to. A close time might be 

 tried, and is in favour of trying it. Is also in favour of putting back all small 

 fish, as recommended by previous witnesses. Thinks the hoppers may have a 

 tendency to destroy the ground. The rule that the stuff is not to be tipped 

 in less than 18-fathom water is strictly carried out. The refuse from the Pollutions. 

 alkali hoppers, known as Blue Billy, kills the codling ; has known it do so. 

 Has known the water out at sea made offensive by the alkali refuse. 



George Harbottle {examined by Mr. Buckland). Inspector of Police, Tyne 

 Salmon Conservancy. Is well acquainted with the mouth of the Tyne. Has 

 been over it for the last seven years, many times from Newbiggin to Souter 

 Point, and three miles out. Has heard previous evidence about hoppers. 

 They work night and day all the year round, except in extremely strong weather. 

 They go out when nothing but the best pilot boats will go. Has seen 14 

 hoppers in view at the same time. The hoppers bring down a large quantity 

 of dirt of all kinds from the bed of the river, and ship ballast ; a great quantity 



