12 



LOBSTERS. 



Decrease. 



Spaioning. 



Gauge. 



Migration. 



Destroyed by 

 tobacco. 



Season, for, 



Close time. 



CRABS. 



Gauge. 



Decrease. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 

 LOBSTERS. 



Gauge. 



Decrease. 

 CRABS. 



Close time 



size caught by the women and children is about 4 inches and under. These 

 crabs are not sent away by railway. The regular fishermen send crabs away 

 by railway to London, Newcastle, Manchester, and elsewhere. The price is 

 about the same as it used to be. Has seldom, if ever, seen a partan with 

 roe in it, therefore no law on the subject is necessary. 



Lobsters are caught in the same places and in the same way as crabs. They 

 have fallen off greatly during the last four years, both in size and 

 number. The causes are over-fishing, the bad coast, and destruction by 

 storms. They deposit their spawn among the rocks and the sea rolls it up and 

 destroys it. They principally spawn in July and August. Has found berried 

 hens at all seasons of the year. Would put back all small berried hens under 

 4 inches in the barrel. Many small lobsters are found in spawn. The largest 

 lobsters caught are about 7 lbs. In the winter the crabs go into deep water. 

 Would not deny that a law giving a close time for crabs during July and 

 August would do good, nor that a gauge of A\ inches for the minimum size 

 of crabs would do good, if the fishermen were allowed the privilege of using 

 them for bait when the bait was scarce. A great many crabs are killed during 

 January and February, — in fact throughout the year, — by storms. The best part 

 of the coast is between Aberdeen and Peterhead, especially from Fraserburgh to 

 Rattray Head. The latter coast is the best for lobsters. A ship with a cargo 

 of tobacco was wrecked about 40 years ago at Kirkton Head, 3 miles north of 

 Peterhead. Before the wreck occurred it was usual to catch four or five 

 lobsters in a ring 5 after the wreck occurred they were thrown up in cartloads 

 on the shore, and the fishery has been very poor since. 



There is a local saying that, " as the corn fills the lobsters improve." Crabs 

 and lobsters are in best condition at harvest time. Would have a close time 

 for July and August, and fishing to commence in September. 



Captain David Gray, of the steamship "Eclipse." Has known Peterhead 

 all his life. Has heard the witnesses, and agrees with them. Most decidedly 

 thinks July and August should be a close time, to allow the females to mature 

 their ova and recover from spawning. As protection is applied to salmon in 

 the breeding season, so it should be applied to crabs and lobsters. No crabs, 

 male or female, under b\ inches should be taken. If it were made illegal to 

 take crabs under 5^ inches, the women and children who took them about the 

 rocks would be prohibited. It is very necessary that they should. All crabs 

 under that size should be returned to the water. Occasional storms in 

 July and August may have the effect of destroying large numbers of crabs 

 when they are soft. Peterhead is not a place where the fishermen make crab 

 and lobster fishing a regular business. 



George Buchan, of Buchanhaven. Has been a fisherman for crabs and 

 lobsters for two years. Did not get so many crabs last season as he did the season 

 before. Thinks they are falling off on account of being over-fished. They 

 have diminished about one half. Fishes in May and June. Thinks there 

 ought to be a close time during July and August, because then they are casting 

 their shells and are breeding. All crabs under A\ inches should be put back 

 into the sea at all times of the year. Lobsters were very scarce last summer. 

 Thinks the cause is over-fishing ; but the scarcity maybe caused by the season. 

 Berried hens under 4 inches in the barrel should be returned to the water. 

 Larger berried hens should be kept. Sends crabs by railway to merchants. 

 The price has not altered. Before the wreck at Kirkton Head there was a 

 great abundance of lobsters. The tobacco was in casks and killed the lobsters 

 for six or eight miles along the coast, as the casks broke up. Does not think 

 it of any use to restock the ground; but the lobsters are not utterly extermi- 

 nated. Has lately got 35 lobsters in one night up and down this ground in 

 40 rings and 20 creels. 



Gumming Summers, Peterhead. Has fished for crabs and lobsters about 

 a year and a half. Fishes from about half-a-mile to 100 yards from the shore. 

 Uses the creels (not the rings). The first year he did very well. Has caught 

 four or five lobsters in a creel. Last year he used 14 creels and caught no 

 lobsters at all. Crabs (partans) go south of Buchan. They are plentiful and 

 are not fished out. The average size is 7 inches. Thinks there should be a 

 close time for crabs in July, August, and September, to allow the young ones 

 to be born, and the small ones to grow larger. Lobsters have got scarce. 

 Last year he fished with six creels in the winter, and caught as many as with 



