45 



they go four for one. These are called polks. Thinks that everything under LOBSTERS. 

 4 inches in the barrel should be put back into the water. The lobsters usually 

 increase in price by about Is. a piece in August and September. The prices ( :,"'.'["' ■ 

 for lobsters are much higher in January and February, than in the summer 

 months. The best lobsters are got in January and February. Berried hens Berried. 

 are chiefly caught in May, June, and July. Female hens with berries are called 

 berried hens; without berries are called "open hens." Is in favour of return- 

 ing berried hens to the sea, but they are more valuable than the others. 

 Notwithstanding this, is in favour of returning them to the sea. Taking them 

 has a tendency to spoil the breed. 



{By Mr. Walpole.) Proposes a gauge for crabs of 4i inches. The North- CRABS, 

 east coast crabs are not so large as Torquay and Scotch crabs, and for this Q mge \ 

 reason Torquay and Scotch fishermen desire a larger gauge. The crabs 

 increase in size to the north of this place. The crabs are sold within the 

 surrounding neighbourhood. It would interfere with his market if the sale of 

 these crabs were localised in Yorkshire, as a considerable number of small 

 crabs are sent to London, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Thinks it would be 

 impossible to get a sale for all these small crabs in Yorkshire. The 4|-inch 

 gauge would suit Leeds market. Sends four times as many crabs and lobsters 

 to London as are sold in the local markets. Yorkshire is not large enough to 

 take all the crabs caught under A\ inches, 



James Dalton [examined by Mr. Walpole). Has been a fisherman for 

 50 years. Has been fishing for crabs and lobsters all that time. Fifty years 

 ago there were not half a dozen boats crabbing from Scarborough. There are Boats. 

 50 boats now. Fifty years ago used to take 30 trunks per boat. Now takes 

 birdcages or creels, and carries 35 to 40 in his boat. Some boats, however, take 

 100 creels. Fifty years ago used to commence in March, and go on to October. 

 The fishing season is the same now. Used to get more biggish crabs in a 

 trunk than he has ever had in a creel. There are fewer crabs in the sea than Decrease. 

 there were — a good deal fewer. The lobsters are also fewer. Has had in the 

 old time 100 of a night. It would take three or four nights to get half 

 as many now. There is crab and lobster ground all the way from Filey 

 Brigg to Whitby. Thinks the decrease of crabs and lobsters is due to taking 

 the small ones. Has seen crabs taken as small as walnuts. {A 4k-inch crab 

 was produced.) Considers it too small. A 4^-inch crab is a decent crab, and 

 would do. Thinks that no lobster should be taken under 4 inches in the LOBSTERS, 

 barrel. Has seen the trawlers bring ashore she crabs full of spawn. These Q auae 

 she crabs are caught on the off ground. It should be made illegal for anyone 

 to bring ashore a she crab with spawn. Is in favour of returning all the 

 berried lobsters to the sea. Thinks that with such a law there might be a 

 danger of the berries being stripped off the lobster. Doesn't see many light Berried. 

 crabs in the market. Is in favour of prohibiting the sale of all light crabs. CRABS. 

 Is not in favour of a close season for crabs. ^ ~ 



George Nightingale {examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been fishing for 

 crabs and lobsters for 40 or 50 years. Fishes 7 miles to the south, and 14 to 

 the north of Scarborough Light, from Filey Brigg to Runswick, and from 

 500 to 600 yards out to sea. Men go three or four miles out. The bottom is 

 all rock with sands adjoining. Uses 60 to 70 pots, but believes that there are 

 too many. The 70 pots will cover three quarters of a mile of ground. Fishing 

 commences at the end of March, and goes on till Martinmas. Has caught 

 some very large crabs here. Now they are caught Sundays and holidays. 

 With the hoops or rings the fishermen were obliged to be present, and there 

 was no Sunday fishing. The creels go down in March, and never come up 

 any more, except to be baited and fished.- Never breaks up crabs for bait. 

 Believes that the crabs spawn out at sea. Has seen small crabs as small as an Pots. 

 inch. The crabs have fallen off one third or more. If they went with hoops 

 as they used to they would not catch so many. Would like to make a law 

 that no boat should carry more than 40 or 45 pots. There were only three or 

 four boats here when he was a young man. There are now at least 50. The 

 pots are occasionally shifted, but very slightly. Thinks that a ground can be 

 over-fished. The trawlers bring in the she crabs all through the year. The Trawlers. 

 young crabs are very white, the old crabs yellow or black. The Scarborough 

 men come and place their pots on the Robin Hood's Bay ground. No 

 crabs should be caught under 4i inches ; at that size they would be worth a Gauge. 



