50 



CRABS. 



Soft. 



LOBSTERS. 



Berried. 



CRABS. 



Decrease. 



Gauge. 



Spawning. 



lobsters: 



Berried. 

 Pots. 



Weather. 



Enemies. 

 Boiling. 



Flamborough Head. Very seldom sells berried crabs. There is a market for 

 them, but the men won't bring them ashore. Casted, soft, or light crabs are 

 not taken here as a rule, they are returned to the sea. There would be a 

 difficulty in enforcing the return of the small soft crabs, as they are shot by 

 the basketful into the barrel. 



There are very few lobsters here. Some of the lobsters that do come are 

 very large. Has had them weigh 5 or 6 lbs. The average size is 1 lb. or 

 li lb- They are never gauged. A tale lobster is 4^ inches in the barrel ; 

 below the tale they go two or three for one. They catch berried lobsters all 

 through the year ; they are most numerous in the summer. The berried lob- 

 sters are more valuable than the others. A berried lobster worth Is. 6d. after 

 it had cast its berries would be worth Is. Does not think that a close season 

 is necessary for crabs and lobsters. They both retire out to sea in the winter. 

 John Warcop (examined by Mr. Walpole). Has been a fisherman about 

 48 years. Fishes at Bridlington, from Quay Pier to Flamborough Dyke. The 

 boats seldom go to the south. From Quay Pier to Flamborough Dyke is 

 about 3 miles. The bottom is chiefly rocky. The fishermen fish from 3 feet 

 water to 5 fathoms. The 5 fathoms water is a mile out. Last year there 

 were 15 or 16 boats fishing for shell-fish at Bridlington. The number is 

 increasing. There is a good deal of weed on the bottom and patches of sand. 

 Crabs are undoubtedly decreasing in number. Forty-eight years ago there 

 were great quantities of crabs got. There are not half so many now. The 

 smallest crabs are towards the Quay, the largest towards Flamborough. Forty- 

 eight years ago the boats very seldom came this side of Southsea landing 

 place to catch crabs. Now they come there and catch the small crabs. There 

 are two causes for the decrease of crabs ; viz., 1. The increase of boats; 2. The 

 capture of very small crabs. By the increase of boats means that the tale is 

 divided among more men. The capture of very small crabs has resulted from 

 fishing south of the Southsea landing place. Believes it would be beneficial 

 to the public and the fishermen to have a limit of size for crabs. Three fisher- 

 men last year had a gauge made of 4^ inches, and made an agreement to bring 

 nothing under A\ ; they wanted to prevent the capture of all crabs under that 

 size. Retains his opinion that an institution of such a gauge would be bene- 

 ficial to the public and the fishermen Thinks that by this limit some 

 immediate suffering may occur, but that future benefit will arise. 



The smallest crabs are towards the Quay. The water is shoal there, and the 

 tide is easy, and this is a great nursery for crabs. Some years ago boats could 

 go from here and get quantities of decent size crabs from 4| to 7 inches. They 

 cannot do so now, and this is due to killing the small crabs and the seeded 

 crabs. Some people throw away the seeded crabs here. Others take them. 

 They are of very little value. It would be a great blessing to have a law 

 saying that no one should catch a seeded crab. There are a few soft crabs 

 killed here in August and September. They are full of water and good for 

 nothing. There are not many catching them. The crab fishing commences in 

 April and lasts eight weeks, and there is no crab fishing during the rest of 

 the year. 



There are very few lobsters here. There would be no objection here to have 

 a gauge for lobsters. It would be reasonable to say that no lobsters should be 

 killed under 4 inches in the barrel. Would not think it unreasonable to pro- 

 hibit the capture of berried lobsters. The fishermen in some cases might strip 

 off the berries but could not do so without detection. Is in favour of a law 

 prohibiting the capture of berried lobsters. 



(By Mr Buckland.) The number of pots carried by each boat varies from 

 30 to 50. There are 15 to 16 boats. The pots are put at the bottom of the 

 sea and left there. Thinks that the crabs bury themselves in the sand in the 

 winter, and draw into shore as the spring comes on. Has seen crabs smaller 

 than a shilling. There are thousands sent to market from here under 2\ inches 

 and sold five and six for Id. Crabs are not broken up for bait here. The 

 pots here are usually baited with plaice. The bait cannot be too fresh for 

 crabs. Crabs crawl mostly after a storm. The pipe for the crab pots is from 

 4| to 5 inches. If the fishermen were tied to the size of the crabs they would 

 have to alter the mesh of the crab pots. Cod fish eat crabs, but do not do 

 much harm to them. There are a great many crabs boiled here. They are put 

 into cold water and gradually boiled, but are dead from drowning before the 



