Supply of. 



67 

 Council Chamber, Birmingham, Friday, 16th February 1877. 



Present: 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



William Smith Scott. Has been a fishsalesman at Birmingham for 15 CRABS, 

 years. Deals in all kinds of fish. Sells crabs and lobsters. The supply of 

 crabs depends on the season. Some days there are a hundred barrels, some 

 days only 10 to 20 barrels. There are six to ten dozen crabs in a barrel, 

 running from 4 to 10 inches across the back. The crabs come from Anstruther, 

 St. Monance, Preston Pans, Dunbar, Coldingham, Cockburnspath, Eyemouth, 

 Burnmouth, Berwick, Holy Island, Beadnell, Craster, Boulmer, Cullercoats ; 

 a few from Filey, Scarborough, and Robin Hood's Bay ; and from Cornwall, 

 Guernsey, and Jersey. The largest crabs are from Guernsey and Jersey. 

 They run 12 to 14 or 16 inches across the back. A few crabs come from the 

 Isle of Man, and Ireland. 



A few lobsters also come from the places mentioned. The quantity of crabs Decreased size. 

 sent to the market has not been less, but for the last six or seven years the 

 crabs have decreased in size. The fishermen, during the last six or seven 

 years, have been sending shell-fish direct to the market on their own account, 

 the merchants declining to take the little crabs and the white-footed crabs. 

 The small crabs are bought two for one, and sometimes three for one. 



Before he came to Birmingham he had large dealings in crabs in the south- 

 east of Scotland, which was his native country. 



Is in favour of a gauge for crabs. Produces a crab 4i inches in length, and Gauge. 

 thinks no crab much less than this should be sold. Suggests a gauge of 4§ 

 inches, to be applicable to England and Scotland. But the responsibility must 

 rest upon the fishermen and not upon the salesmen. The crabs are boiled 

 here. 



Knows a "light" crab. Produces some. Defines a light crab by the light- Soft. 

 ness of the shell. They are called here white crabs. The dealers get many 

 white crabs sometimes, especially between September and January. They 

 are crabs which have cast their shell in the summer, and the new shell is 

 gradually hardening in the winter. The dealers sell the claws of these white 

 crabs. It is a great pity that these white crabs are brought to market at all ; it 

 is a great loss to the country. They are of no use at all. They do not pay 

 for their carriage. Has seen white crabs at Dunbar pinched, their shells broken, 

 and thrown overboard. Knows a soft crab, which is like an egg without a shell. 

 It does not take more than a fortnight or three weeks for a light crab to 

 recover its condition. After a storm there are always a great many white crabs, 

 but they fill up in a week, and then none are caught. Knows very little about 

 trawling, and does not know whether the trawlers pick up many light crabs. 



The crabs here are boiled. It is the habit here to kill them in lukewarm Soiling. 

 water. It does not answer to stab them. Does not know what temperature 

 they will die at. 



At this time of year there is a very small supply of lobsters at Birmingham. LOBSTERS. 



The lobsters come from Stornoway, Ireland, west and north coasts of Scotland, 



and Norway. The lobsters are more plentiful in hot weather than in cold Su ^ vly °f- 



weather. There are many lobsters from Norway in hot weather. Does not get 



them from Sussex. The lobsters here are measured from the tip of the nose to 



the end of the barrel. Would make it illegal to take any lobster under 4 inches Gauge. 



in the barrel. The berried hens should also be returned to the sea. The berried Berried. 



hens are valuable in the market. Thinks it would be possible to enforce a law 



compelling the return of berried hens. The berries might be removed, but an 



experienced fisherman would know that they had been removed. Does not 



think a close season would be advantageous. Gets no crayfish. Does not 



know why lobsters turn red when boiled. 



{Examined by Mr. Walpole.) Recommends 4^-inch gauge for crabs. A CRABS. 



5-inch gauge would be too large. The 5-inch gauge would not be a 



very serious injury to the Birmingham market. It would perhaps be Gauge - 

 better for the salesman to have a 5-inch gauge. The poorer consumers now buy 

 a 2d. or 3d. crab, and they would be deprived of these. On reconsidera- 

 tion tlw 5-inch gauge is a very fair size. Does not wish to throw the 



