0/ 



the largest crabs are taken, is the central habitat of the species. There is only 

 one edible crab caught in Cornwall or, as far as he knows, in Great Britain. 



Is himself in favour of returning all she crabs from March to May. Found 

 in one she crab 2,000,000 of ova. They are very abundant. A female crab 

 now (December) is as good as a male crab. Crabs cast their shell much less 

 constantly when they are old. In the zoea state they cast their shells very 

 frequently. Has seen the crabs in a continuous line from the zoea upwards. 

 Is in favour of a gauge to prevent the capture of the little ones. Does 

 not think that the crabs, in deep water, hibernate in the mud. The crabs 

 in shallow water do. The crabs, which the trawlers bring in now. have their 

 coral inside them. Is in favour of protecting the females and the small fish. 



The lobsters usually hatch out their eggs in June. In December the ova are 

 carried. In June or July the young are hatched out. They carry the eggs 

 during the whole of the intermediate period. Is in favour of protecting 

 the female lobsters in May and June ; thinks there would be no harm in 

 this. 



Thinks the crayfish are not made sufficient use of. Has no evidence to show 

 whether they are migratory. 



The lobster is an article of luxury, the crab is an article of food. If Norway 

 sends berried lobsters into the market in the summer months, it is all the 

 more reason why the native lobsters should be protected in those months. 



Never heard of a Norwegian lobster being caught here. Thinks the sky 

 blue lobster from North Wales is only a variation of colour. 



James Cavill Willcox. Has taken great interest in the sea fisheries for 

 40 years, and has studied them both on the coast and in the Channel Islands. 

 Eighteen years ago, when the Keyham works were commenced, all the filth 

 from the excavation was thrown out into the sea. More or less, this has been 

 going on ever since. The old fishermen at the time prophesied that it would 

 be an injury. Thinks that this has injured the crab ground by filling up the 

 holes and destroying their food. Thinks this injures the whiting ground and 

 everything. It is a very difficult thing to make a close time for either crabs 

 or lobsters. The trawlers take great quantities of crabs at this time of the 

 year. The Admiralty has jurisdiction over the trawlers. 



CRABS. 

 Species of. 



Shedding shells. 



Growth. 



LOBSTERS. 

 Breeding. 



CRAY-FISH. 



Value of. 

 LOBSTERS. 



Norivegian. 

 Pollutions. 



Trawlers. 



Wembury House, Wembury, Plymouth, 6tn December 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



John Forster {examined by Mr. Walpole). Has been a fisherman at Noss 

 for 45 years, fishing for crabs and lobsters. Some boats fish close to shore ; 

 but he goes 10 miles south of the river Yealm, off the Bolt Tail, five miles out 

 to sea. This is locally called the West Ruts and the East Ruts. The bottom 

 is mostly rocky, with patches of sand. The shoalest water on the East Ruts 

 is 7 fathoms deep. The deepest water is 25 fathoms. Used to fish in the 

 same place 45 years ago. 



Forty-five years ago there were seven or eight boats on the ground ; now Boats. 

 there are 12 or 13. The boats used to carry 26 pots ; they carry now 30 pots. 

 Commences fishing about the middle of February if the weather permits, but 

 the weather rarely permits till March. Continues fishing till August, and Weather. 

 some boats continue later. The days get shorter then, the weather gets bad, 

 and the year worn out. Thinks that there were rather more shell fish on the 

 ground then than there are now. But there is very little decrease. The price 

 has risen, but bait and gear have also risen in price, and the net profit is .almost 

 the same. Thinks the fishery is in good condition. Does not know that any- 

 thing could be done to improve it. Thinks that he has not caught one berried 

 crab in five years. In the beginning of October, the year before last, had 20 

 dozen crabs in the store pots; they were there for some weeks ; and in the 

 middle of October they had dozens with berries on them. Thinks from this 

 that the crabs go to berry in October. That year had gone on crabbing to 





CRABS. 



Tied. 



