10 



CRABS. 



Boiling. 



Gauge. 

 Close time. 



No decrease. 



Close time. 



Season for 



Gauge. 



Price. 



Decrease. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 



with wool. If there is a close season it must at any rate be for the whole of 

 Scotland. There would be no difficulty in enforcing a local close season in 

 his district either by the coast-guard or by the officers of the White Herring 

 Fishery Board. Salmon nets are all removed on the commencement of the 

 close season, and the crab creels could be removed in the same way. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) There is a great demand for crabs in Aberdeen. But 

 in the winter months there are no crabs in the market, only their claws. The 

 crabs are all boiled in the villages. They are stabbed first. 



William Reid, advocate, Aberdeen, clerk to the Dee and Don Fishery 

 District Board {examined by Mr. Young). Objects to a gauge for crabs, because, 

 though it would be a test of size, it would not be a test of condition. In the 

 winter months even Avell-sized crabs have scarcely any meat in the shell, only 

 in the claws. Would prefer to have a close time of at least four months, com- 

 mencing on the 1 st November. Thinks it would be generally observed by the 

 fishermen if passed into law. 



William Meff, fishmonger at Aberdeen. A fishmonger 16 years. Had a 

 fishery at Catterline (5 miles square), near Stonehaven, for 10 years up to 1874. 

 There were 25 men fishing for crabs from April to July. The herring fishing 

 commenced in July. In September and October resumed crab fishing. Left 

 off from November to April. Crabs have not decreased. The last year he had 

 the fishery he had 800 dozen in five days. The number of creels had doubled 

 in the 10 years ; there were more traps taking the crabs. But thinks the 

 crabs are fewer, and that if the fishing machinery had not increased he would 

 not have half so many crabs as 10 years ago. Thinks, therefore, that the crabs 

 have decreased both in size and quantity. Gets crabs as large as 8 or 9 

 inches, and some as small as 3 or 4 inches. Fully one half are small. Is in 

 favour of a close season in June, July, August. Thinks the crabs are then 

 in good condition. They are in the worst condition in November and 

 December ; but November, December, and January are naturally closed. In 

 those months the crabs have scarcely any meat in their shells ; the claws only 

 are used. Thinks that it is impossible for many crabs to be taken then. Does 

 not think many are taken in those months. The male crab is in the best 

 condition in March, April, and May; the female in September and October. 

 The English prefer the male crab; the Scotch the red meat (undeveloped 

 spawn) of the female. Manchester is the best market for crabs. There ought 

 to be a gauge. All below 4| inches ought to be returned to the water. Thinks 

 that a good many fishermen are in favour of this. The gauge would effect an 

 improvement in time. 



The gauge should be 4^ inches ; it would be a test of size not of condition. 

 The Aberdeen people are very fond of crabs, and have been used to them for 

 many years. Would be pleased with a regulation gauge, as very small crabs are 

 of no use to them. The crabs six years ago were sold to him for 10c/. a dozen of 

 13 ; he now pays 3s. and as much as 4s. for them. This is due to the scarcity 

 and also to the railway, though at this time (October) the railways don't take 

 them south, and the crabs are chiefly used for the local (Deeside) demand. They 

 are sent all over the district up Deeside as far as the castle town of Braemar 

 and up Don side. Cannot get as many crabs as he wants for the local demand, 

 they are over-fished. To prevent this would have a close season in June, July, 

 and August, and would return also all unsizeable crabs to the sea. 



Gets his lobsters principally from the Orkneys. 



James Barlow, clerk to Mr. Meff {examined by Mr. Walpole). Manages 

 Mr. Meff's accounts. Has directed his attention to accounts of the Catterline 

 fishery. The produce of that fishery decreased while Mr. Meff had it. The 

 decrease was due to over-fishing ; double the number of nets only caught 

 the same number of crabs. Heard what Mr. Meff said about a close season. 

 It is difficult to say when a close season should be. Thinks, however, it should 

 be in June, July, and August. The male crabs are not unsaleable then, but they 

 are better in April and May. Is in favour of a gauge, thinks it should be 

 5 inches. This is the smallest that there should be. All crabs below this 

 should be returned. Would have the same gauge for males and females. 

 Males are the largest, especially their claws. 



{By Mr. Young.) The close season should apply to the whole of Scotland, 

 and should be a close season for buying and selling as well as taking, as in the 

 Salmon Fishery Acts. 



