good condition, the claws are sent to market and the bodies used as bait. The CRABS, 

 body of the male crab is rarely sent to market, it is retained for bait, and the 

 claws alone are sent to market. Both the claws and body of the female crab 

 are sent to market. Sees no cause whatever for diminution of crabs, except 

 catching them out of season from November to July. November to July close time. 

 would perhaps be too long a period for close season, but some close season 

 ought to be adopted. In the season when crabs are in good order there are 

 very few small crabs caught. Sees the small crabs chieHy in winter and 

 spring. The sea off Stranathrawis rocky, but southwards towards Stonehaven 

 and Bervie there is more sand, and this is the chief seat of the crab fisheries. 

 The reason of this is that the bottom is sandy and more favourable. Even in 

 October there are always a few spent crabs among the good ones, andn'ce versa 

 in November there are always a few good crabs among the bad ones. The only 

 way to stop improvident fishing is a close time. Does not think it would be 

 practicable to have a gauge. The fishermen would break up the crabs for bait. 

 Does not think that the fishermen are in favour of a close season ; they all say 

 things are going on well as they are. Ten years ago would have considered 

 2d. or 3d. a fair price for a crab. The same sized crab now would cost 5c?. or Price. 

 ()d. The increase in price is 100 per cent. The fishermen now don't make 

 the fishery so much of a trade as they used. They devote their attention to 

 the haddocks. A great proportion of the crabs caught go to Glasgow, Birming- 

 ham, Manchester, and the midland towns. The crab fishing ground extends 

 from the Bay of Stonehaven to Bervie, about 15 miles. 



(By Mr. Young.) Thinks that a continuance of this improvident mode of 

 fishing will lead to further evil. Is not aware of the statutory close season 

 for lobsters. The Act is neither known nor observed. The fishermen now 

 go further from the coast to set their creels than they used to do. Understands 

 from the fishermen that the male crab is in the best order about Christmas, Season for. 

 the female crab in September and October. The present season has been a 

 very good season for crabs. This is due to the fact that there has been a 

 good deal of rough weather, and the crabs go easier into the pots. The crab 

 pots are invariably baited with haddocks' heads. The pots are made of thin Bait. 

 spars of wood and netting. 



The number of creels in each boat has diminished from three to one. Boats. 

 Practically there is less machinery for catching crabs than there used to be. 

 At some of the villages they don't fish at all. The reduction of machinery 

 is not, however, leading to increased production of crabs. The evil is, no 

 doubt, reduced, but the reduction has made no perceptible impression. The 

 great object of the fishermen is to get crabs for bait. Crabs are the most 

 successful bait. Thinks it not possible that crabs may be more useful as bait 

 than as food. Other bait is always available. The provision of other bait would 

 be more expensive, but the evil would not be comparable with the evil done to 

 the crab fisheries. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) A close season in June, July, and August would be in Close time. 

 the period of the year when crabs are getting into good order, and would be 

 too late. Would much rather make the close season commence from the 

 middle of November or 1st December for four or five months. This is a 

 very stormy period of the year Fishermen cannot pursue their fishery in the Weather. 

 stormy period of year, but in frosty weather they can go out very easily, 

 and they often go to the crab pots when they cannot go out with their lines. 

 The natural close time due to storms is dependent on seasons. Taking crabs 

 out of season is almost entirely due to taking crabs for bait. The reduction of Used for bait. 

 fishing machinery spoken of before has not led to an increase of crabs. The 

 fishermen are so anxious for bait that they will hardly sell a good crab ; it 

 pays them better to get them for bait than to send them to market. The law 

 of close season could be enforced by the coast-guard. The White Herring Enforcement of 

 Fishery Board has no officers on the coast that he knows of. Thinks it would law ' 

 be impracticable to enforce a gauge. It could be enforced in the markets, 

 but the small crabs would then be used as bait. Does not think that the fish 

 caught with crabs as bait compensate the consumer for the crabs that are 

 destroyed. 



(By Mr. Young.) Is not aware that in the Firth of Forth the long-line 

 fishermen prefer mussels to crabs for bait. In this part of the coast they Used for bait. 

 prefer crabs to any other bait. The crab is broken up and tied on to the hook 



