51 



water boils, but some are plunged at once into boiling water. The lobsters are CRABS, 

 tied not plugged. 



James Scottar {examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been a fisherman eight 

 years at Bridlington. Before that was at Filey. Has been four years catching 

 crabs. Catches them chiefly towards Flamborough. Thinks the crabs were bigger 

 this year than in the three previous years. Heard Mr. Warcop's evidence. 

 Thinks that to return the small crabs to the sea, would, after two or three years, 

 be a benefit. During the years when the crabs were growing some of the men 

 would not be able to keep their families. As a crab catcher, would like to stick 

 to present plan. Has been some days getting 11. to 25s. a day for small crabs Price. 

 and 7s. to 85. for big ones when there were no small ones. Would for his part 

 have no gauge at all. Themale crabs are sold at 10s. a basket, and there are 

 10 or 12 score a basket. Has many a night caught 300 little crabs. It would 

 be a great advantage, after two or three years, to let the little orabs grow, but 

 it would be a serious present injury. A 4-inch gauge would be plenty small 

 enough. A man might get a living with a 4-inch gauge. Stops fishing before Gauge. 

 -the crabs are soft. Some of the men go on later. Cannot say what the men 

 catch. It ought to be illegal to catch soft crabs. Only sees an odd seeded Berried. 

 crab by chance. Thinks that it ought to be illegal to take them. 



There are very few lobsters here. Only caught three last season. They LOB STE RS, 

 were 5 to 6 inches in the barrel. Agrees with previous witness that no lobster Berried. 

 should be taken under 4 iuches in the barrel. Thinks also that the berried Gauge. 

 lobsters ought to be tossed overboard. 



(By Mr. Buckland.) Cannot say why the crabs here are so small. An 8-inch CRABS, 

 crab is a very big crab here. Very few of these are taken. Knows the Cromer 

 fishery. It is 7 miles from Flamborough to Bridlington. Believes that the 

 small crabs here are a distinct species. Thinks that a crab grows an inch a 

 year. They grow an inch when they cast their shell. Believes they shed their Growth. 

 shell once a year. A 4-inch crab is worth \d. A 5-inch crab is worth 2d. or 3d. 

 The little 4-inch crabs are very sweet. The crabs are sold to the fish buyers. 

 Sells the crabs also by hawking. 



Richard Bedlington (examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been fishing for 

 crabs for 20 years. Used to use trunks when he began. Twenty-four trunks Trunks. 

 made a fleet. They required constant attention. They were set about 8 fathoms 

 from each other and in 3 fathoms water, and were lifted 15 times a night. The 

 crabs then were quite as small as they are now. Would get 20 small 3^-inch 

 crabs for one big one. The crabs on this coast are small. There were six or 

 seven years (15 years ago) when the men knocked off because the crabs were so 

 small. The railway was used in 1843. Never fished for crabs before the 

 railway was made. Before that the crabs were sent in carts to Hull and York, Baihoays. 

 30 and 40 miles. The bottom is rocky, with clumps of clay. The crabs get 

 into holes in the clay for the winter. Believes if the small crabs were spared, 

 they would never grow into big ones. Can't say why the crabs are smaller 

 here, but they are smaller. Thinks the gauge' or crabs should not exceed 

 4 inches, but might do at 4| inches. Thousands would have to be thrown Gauge. 

 away below this, and those would grow into 4h inches. Believes that the 

 majority of the fishermen are in favour of a 4-inch gauge. Would himself 

 advise A\. There are 40 fishermen. 



There are very few lobsters caught here. Has caught three this season, LOBSTERS. 



about 8 or 9 inches long. Is in favour of a gauge for lobsters, but can't say 



what the gauge should be. Thinks the ground here is too smooth for lobsters. auge - 



The bottom of the sea here is levellish rock. Round Flamborough Head there is 



a good lobster ground. Berried hens should all be put back into the sea. 



The proper way to restore the lobster fisheries is to return the berried hens. Berried. 



There should be a fine of 11. for taking them. There is no trawling on the rocky 



•ground where the crabs are. Believes a crab sheds its shell every year. There CRABS. 



are a good many dog crabs here. They come into the other crab pots. Every- So ^ 



bcdy puts back soft crabs, which are of no use to anyone. 



John Gibbon (examined by Mr. Walpole.) Has been a crab catcher 

 28 years. The crabs were not so small in Bridlington Bay 28 years ago as they Decreased size. 

 are now. They began to get small three or four years afterwards. There 

 are more now on the ground than there were, but more little crabs are taken. 

 Is in favour of stopping the capture of little crabs. Thinks a 4-inch gauge, Gauge. 

 however, is big enough. If there were a 4 -inch gauge it would be no use 



