61 



years. Uses about 40 pots. The pots are set about 100 yards apart. The pots 



are set on the rocks in 14 or 15 fathoms water. Was trawling in a Brixham Trawlers. 



trawler for three years and a half — 30 years ago. The trawl beam is 22 feet 



long and upwards. Heard Mr. Pratt's evidence about the trawlers. When 



he was trawling here he caught many crabs in the summer season from May to 



October. They mostly had red coral in them. Was not trawling in the 



winter months. Thinks the trawlers might be made to put back all berried 



crabs. It would not interfere with their business. Agrees with Mr. Pratt that 



all berried crabs, all crabs under 5 inches, and all lobsters under 8 inches 



should be put back. 



N.B. — The other fishermen at the meeting expressed concurrence in the 

 evidence given by Mr. Pratt. 



King and Queen Inn, Hamble, Friday, 8th December 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Robert Scovell. Has been a fish merchant at Hamble for 40 years. The * 



business has been in his family for over a century. The business first began by 

 his ancestors taking hoops for pilchard barrels from the New Forest to Cornwall, 

 and bringing back a cargo of crabs. Is in the habit of obtaining crabs and 

 lobsters from the Start to the Scilly Islands, including Sennen. Does not send 

 to Scotland. Obtains them in Ireland from Cape Clear to Bantry. The shell- 

 fish are sent all over the kingdom. Used formerly to supply London j but 

 since the institution of railways sends them all over the kingdom, down even 

 to Edinburgh. Has not found any falling off in the crabs either in size or in N° decrease. 

 number. There are certain places where the fish are never large. Has had 

 crabs 12 or 14 lbs. in weight. These crabs come from Gorran Haven, Start 

 Bay, and other places. The average size is from 5 to 7 lbs. A sale crab or 

 measured crab is 8 inches across the back. Below this size they go two for 

 one. A crab from 5 to 6 inches is a small crab. The crabs are not smaller 

 in size than they used to be. Is in favour of returning all crabs under 6 

 inches. At Portland, however, and Bognor not one crab in four would mea- 

 sure 6 inches. There would be a difficulty in having a gauge for Cornwall 

 which would not apply to Portland and Bognor. The crabs in some places are 

 larger than others. The largest crabs in Europe are in Start Bay. Along the 

 north-east coast of England the crabs run small. The small crabs on the 

 north-east coast will never grow into big ones. Would, as a fish merchant, 

 prefer a 6-inch gauge, and this should apply to shes as well as hes. A 5-inch Gauge. 

 gauge, however, would do, and a 6-inch gauge would not do for Portland and 

 Bognor. From February to April the she crabs run very small, but there are 

 very few she crabs killed in those months. The* female crabs come in in June, 

 and go on till September. They begin to fall off in the latter part of October. 

 Has a few females in December, but they then fall off. Finds the coral in the 

 she crabs in November and December. Thinks the she crabs in January draw 

 off into deep water to spawn. The berried crabs are in January. Thinks the Spawning. 

 berries hatch out in January, but has not seen a berried she crab for a year. 

 Thinks that all berried crabs should be returned to the water. Gets more 

 for his crabs from April to October. Thinks the crabs are in best condition 

 in February and March. Never purchases soft crabs, but has had crabs cast 

 their shells with him. Calls light crabs white berried crabs, and these and 

 soft crabs should be all returned to the 'water. There is no sale for soft soft. 

 crabs. Boils the crabs here. Puts them into cold water on a very steady 

 fire. Only boils them for his own use. They are sent away alive. The crabs 

 are dead before the water is lukewarm. Putting crabs into cold water is the Boiling. 

 most merciful way of killing them ; they are drowned. Knows that the 

 trawlers interfere with the crabbers, but they do not do so very much. The 

 Brixham trawlers catch a great many crabs. Is in favour of returning all berried 





