Herring 1 Fishery Board should carry out the law. Has never known of a 

 prosecution under 9 Geo. II. c. 33, sec. 4, but approves of the close season 

 fixed by that Act. The close season at present is systematically violated. 



James Johnson, Montrose (examined by Mr. Youny). Has been a lessee CRABS, 

 of fishings and a fish salesman for 35 years, and has had great experience in crab 

 and lobster fisheries. There are more crabs taken now from Anstruther on the 

 coast of Fifeshire to Gourdon than there used to be, but they are smaller in size, Decreased size. 

 they are closer netted. Attributes the falling off in size to additional demand and 

 increased price. The price is threefold what it was 30 years ago. A fisherman Price. 

 now gets Is. 6d. or Is. 9d. where he used to get 6d. The crab season is a 

 short season ; he would have no close season. Thinks a 6-inch gauge would be Gauge. 

 rather large for some parts of the district. Thinks a 5|-inch gauge would be a 

 better gauge for fishermen, but the 6-inch gauge would compensate them in 

 the long run. If there is a close season it must be in June, this would be suffi- Close time. 

 cient. In July and August the crab fishers are away on the herring fishery. 

 There is a difficulty about the gauge because bait is scarce, and small crabs Used for bait. 

 would be used for bait when the fishermen are far from the mussel beds. Is 

 certain that in many districts, if there was a gauge, the crabs would be broken 

 up for bait. He would increase the space between the bar of the crab pots p ts. 

 and the mesh of the nets. Would have a larger mesh for the pots. The 

 mesh ought to be about 4 inches from knot to knot. 



There is a difficulty about the mesh because a lobster will go through a 

 mesh which would keep a crab. Thinks it would be beneficial to close June Close time. 

 altogether on the coast of Scotland, notwithstanding the case of the Cornish 

 fisheries. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) Proposes as an experiment to close the month of July. It 

 must be made illegal to sell lobsters and crabs in close season, and the sale 

 must be prohibited universally, or the sale must be authorised by a justice of 

 the peace. The Cornish crabs and lobsters might be sold in June on a 

 magistrate's order. The certificate might be given by the coastguard. Thinks LOBSTERS, 

 the Cornish crabs and lobsters might easily be known from the others. There 

 are only a few old fishermen fishing in July and August. 



Cannot prevent the capture of berried hens. It would be just as wise to Berried. 

 prohibit the capture of full herrings as to prohibit the capture of berried hens. 



James Muirhead, fishmonger in Queen Street, Edinburgh. (By Mr. WaU CRABS. 



pole.) 20 years in business. Has been extensively engaged in dealing in crabs 



and lobsters, obtaining them from Dunbar, North Berwick, Crail, Buckhaven, 

 Cockenzie, and Newhaven. Buys through an agent and is also in the whole- 

 sale way. There are more fishermen at these places than there were 20 years Boats. 

 ago. There are nearly double the number fishing. The men make a very 

 good trade, the price has increased much. 10 to 20 dozen crabs is a fair day's 

 take per boat. 20 years ago it would have been four or five dozen larger. Decrease. 

 The gross take of all the boats is greater than it was, but the size of the fish is 

 not so good. There are quite as many crabs in the sea as there used to be. 

 There are not half so many large crabs taken as there used to be. This is due 

 to taking unsizeable crabs and everything that comes. Should therefore Gauge. 

 recommend a 6-inch gauge. This would to a great extent restore the fishing, 

 but there should also be a close season in June, July, and August, the prin- Close time 

 cipal spawning months. This must be a close season for sale as well as taking. 

 It must apply to the whole kingdom. There may be places where crabs could 

 only be taken in June, July, and August, but does not think there are many. 

 Unless the close season can be a universal close season, there must be no close 

 season at all. 



Lobsters have decreased a great deal in size, not so much in numbers. Pro- LOBSTERS, 

 poses a gauge of 4? inches for the head, equivalent to an 8-inch gauge at the 

 very lowest. These gaagesmust be universal on seller, buyer, and taker. (*aicge. 



June, July, and August should also be closed for lobsters. Would not be close time. 

 necessary to make any law about berried hens. The berried hens ought to be 

 taken in the other nine months, as the berried hen is the most valuable form of erried - 

 lobster. The greatest demand for berried hens is in the winter and turbot months. prab<! 



(By Mr. Buckland.) Gets soft crabs in June, July, and August, when they __ 



cast their shells. Thinks a crab of 4^ inches is about three years old. Soft. 



(By Mr. Young.) Would enforce these restrictions through the officers of 

 the White Herring Fishery Board. 



