43 

 The Inn, Robin Hood's Bay, Friday, 17th November 1876. 



Present : 



Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Isaac Storm (examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been a crab and lobster CRABS, 

 fisherman for nearly 40 years. Used formerly to use rings ; left them off 26 

 years ago, and now uses lobster pots. Crabs are more numerous than lobsters 

 here. There are 12 to 14 boats here, with from 2 to 3 men each using from 

 20 to 50 creels per boat. The ground extends three miles north, half way to 

 Whitby; three miles south, and half a mile seawards. The ground is mostly 

 rocky. The crabs are not so plentiful as they used to be. They have been Decrease. 

 diminishing in number every year for. the last 20 years. Doesn't think that 

 the crabs are smaller than they were. Most of the crabs are about 5 inches 

 across the back. Is in favour of returning the smaller crabs to the sea. Any- Gauge. 

 thing under 4i inches might be hove overboard. A 4^-inch crab is a market- 

 able crab. Has always been in the habit of returning these. A 4-inch 

 lobster is an ordinary sized lobster : 4 inches and 4^ inches are the two sizes 

 for lobsters. Under 4\ inches in the barrel lobsters count two for one. Under 4 LOBSTERS, 

 inches they ought to be returned to the sea. Has always been in the habit of Q auge ] 

 returning berried crabs to the sea, but there are very few of them. Berried 

 lobsters are found all the year round. It would not be possible to return 

 them. The fishermen get no more money for a berried hen than for any other Berried. 

 lobster. Has seen soft crabs here, but always gives up fishing before the soft 

 crabs come in. The fishing commences in March, and ends at the end of July. 

 No pots are set before February. The lobsters are not so numerous as they Decrease. 

 were. The Scarborough people come on to the ground and take the small 

 crabs ; thinks if it were made illegal to sell small crabs, the Scarborough 

 men would catch the small crabs here, and heave them overboard at Scar- 

 borough instead of at Whitby. Unless this is prevented, any legislation 

 will do no good to Robin Hood's Bay. 



Isaac Storm (examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Robin Hood's Bay. Is 

 cousin to previous witness. Has been fishing ever since he was 14 years old; is 

 now 52. Thirty-eight years ago only a few old men and young lads were fishing 

 for crabs ; now there are 12 to 14 boats here. Thirty-eight years ago the Scar- 

 borough boats never came here. Seven or eight boats were here from Scar- Boats. 

 borough last year, but he has known as many as 20 here. Thirty-eight years 

 ago used with trunks to get 10 or 11 score of saleable crabs a night. Wouldn't 

 be able now to get more than six or seven score a night. Now they fish night 

 and day. With trunks they could only go into 10 fathoms water ; now they 

 fish in 20 fathoms water with pots. With the trunks used only to fish at 

 night, unless the water was thick in the day. Thinks the fishery is over- Decrease. 

 fished. Has the same story to tell of the lobsters. They are over-fished. Is 

 in favour, as a remedy, of returning the small lobsters and the small crabs ; 

 i.e., all lobsters under 4 inches in the barrel, and all crabs under 4 inches across Gauge. 

 the back. The small crabs are sweeter than the large crabs. Thinks that if CRABS, 

 this were done, the fishery would be improved. The trawling smacks come in Gauge. 

 about a mile from shore in the crab season and trawl up all the old breeders. Trawlers. 

 This has the effect of destroying the old breeding crabs. Last summer they 

 could catch 100 crabs in one night in the pots. The trawlers came on the 

 rock's edge where the pots were set ; and after that the fishermen could not 

 catch a score of crabs a night, and had in consequence to shift their ground. 

 The trawlers caught all the crabs on that ground. There were 14 or 15 smacks. 

 Thinks that all in-shore trawling should be prohibited. 



Matthew Cowper (examined by Mr. Buckland). Has fished for crabs in 

 Robin Hood's Bay for 20 years. Puts down 40 pots. Fishes from the middle 

 of April to the end of July. After that the crabs are mostly soft. Agrees Soft.' 

 that the crabs have fallen off, and thinks that this is in consequence of there Decrease. 

 being more men catching them. But believes the trawlers to be the greatest 

 injury they have to encounter. Has seen 16 trawlers in the summer, day after 

 day trawling for soles, whiting, and other fish. These trawlers work in about Trawlers. 

 10 fathoms water. Thinks the trawlers destroy the food of the crabs ; and injure 

 the nets for getting the crabs. The trawlers prevent the fishermen getting bait. 



