49 



have not fallen off during the eight years, either in size or quantity. Before he CRABS, 

 was a buyer he was a fisherman. It is 35 years since he commenced fishing. At 

 that time very few small crabs were caught. The small crabs were given to the 

 boys for pocket money, and they could get 2d. to 3d. of a morning. Now the Trice. 

 boats get nearly Ss. for small crabs, 3| to 4 inches long in a morning. Thinks 

 that all crabs over 4 inches should be kept. The crabs which he buys are hawked Gauoe. 

 in the country, and are not sent away to distant markets. The small crabs 

 bought by the poor people. The population of Flamborough are two-thirds fish- 

 ing and one-third agricultural. The crabs are hawked about among the agricul- 

 tural class. Can always sell little crabs. A 3|-inch crab is worth a halfpenny 

 in the beginning of the season; a 4-inch crab is worth a penny at any time. 

 Does not agree in Mr. Crowe's recommendation that a 4^-inch gauge is 

 advisable. 



Sells lobsters sometimes. Has sold them as small as 3 inches in the barrel. LOBSTERS. 

 Thinks these ought to be returned to the water. They are worth 3c?. each, „ . 

 but there is very little in them. Everything over 4 inches might be taken. Gauge. 

 Is in favour of taking berried lobsters because they sell for so much money. Berried. 



William Stork {examined by Mr. Walpole). Is a fisherman. Has been so CRABS. 



40 years. Has heard previous evidence. The large crabs have decreased un- 



commonly, the small ones have not decreased. Is in favour of returning small 

 crabs to the sea. A fisherman can only sell a 4-inch crab for three or four a 

 penny. A 4|-inch crab is plenty small enough to be taken. When he was a Gauge. 

 boy he took nothing under 4| inches. The smaller ones were given to the lads. 

 But it would not be possible now to have a larger gauge than 4\ inches, as 

 so many men are dependent on the crab fishing. 



Very small lobsters are brought home, but all under 4 inches in the barrel LOBSTERS, 

 should be returned. Gauge 



When he was a boy he could get 100 large crabs in a night, of 5 inches and 

 upwards. There are not now 20 large crabs to be had in a night. There are 

 more small crabs and fewer big ones. The holes of the pots are 4| inches in Pots. 

 diameter but stretch to 5| inches. 



Robert Emerson {examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been a fisherman for 40 C RAB S, 

 years. Is in favour of a 4-inch gauge for crabs. Thinks if the gauge is larger Gauge. 

 than this there are many people in Flamborough who will be unable to get a 

 living. There are about 70 boats crabbing at Flamborough. Thinks the crabs 

 draw in from the deep water to the shore. The trawlers in Bridlington Bay come Migration. 

 close in shore. They catch a good many crabs at times. Never in his life sold 

 a soft crab. They are always returned to the sea. Is in favour of returning 

 all berried crabs to the sea, but is not in favour of returning berried lobsters, Bemed- 

 as they are very valuable. The population of Flamborough is 1,573, two- 

 thirds of whom are dependent on fishing. 



Piers and Harbours Commissioners' Hoom, Bridlington Quay, 

 Monday, 20th November 1876. 



Present: 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Spink Birds all {examined by Mr. Buckland). Fish merchant at Bridlington. 

 Has been buying fish for nine years. Sends the fish to Hull, Nottingham, &c. 

 The crabs are too small for London. Does not think that the crabs have fallen No decrease. 

 off. Crabs in this place run very small. They consider a 4-inch crab a very 

 good crab here. Two-thirds of the crabs here are less than four inches. A 

 great many crabs under 3i inches are brought ashore here. The only markets 

 for these crabs are at Hull and Nottingham. The Manchester, Liverpool, and 

 London markets won't take these small crabs, and require a 5 or 6 inch crab. 

 Is not in favour of killing crabs so small as 3 J inches. The crabs are sold by Gauge. 

 the barrel. The price per barrel has not increased. Is in favour of returning 

 all crabs under 4 inches. If the gauge were larger than this it would not pay 

 the fishermen to go to sea. Believes that the crabs here are brood from 



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