14 



Gauge. 



Used for bait. 



CRABS. prevents crab fishing in these months, so that nature makes a close season of 

 her own. Thinks, however, it would be well to supplement the natural with a 

 statutory close season. 



Is also in favour of returning small crabs to the water. The gauge should be 

 from 4^ to 5 inches across the back. The White Herring Fishery Officers and 

 the coast-guard men could see the gauge^enforced. A gauge would be no test 

 of condition, only of size. Crabs are not used for bait for the long lines, but 

 they are used for the haddock lines. 40 score of hooks are on a common fisher- 

 man's line. The hooks are baited with crabs, bullock's liver, and mussels. 

 Mussel bait is not plentiful here. It all comes from Montrose. There are 

 no mussel scalps between Cove and Bervie. Mussels come from Montrose 

 and Port Glasgow. The reason for using crabs for bait is the scarcity and dear- 

 ness of mussels. Cannot say that the use of crabs for bait has been the cause 

 of their scarcity. Crabs are more valuable to the fishermen for bait than for 

 the market. 

 Boats. (By Mr. Walpole.) 29 years ago there were about 30 boats ; there are now 



two extra boats at Muchalls, five extra at Skateraw, three extra at the Dunnies, 

 four extra at Porthlethen, five extra at Cove. There are now 51 boats. The crab 

 ground extends from Cove to Bervie 18 miles, and 4 miles seaward. The 

 boats do not depend on the crabs but on the herrings, and only fish for crabs 

 till the herring fishery commences. 29 years ago the boats carried 10 pots 

 each. They do not average now three to a boat. 



Crabs are very valuable for bait. If December, January, and February were 

 closed the fishermen would not be much injured because they cannot get out 

 to sea then. It would, however, do good to close those months. 



Mitchell Craig (examined by Mr. Walpole). Has been fishing for 40 or 

 50 years at Cove. There are not so many crabs as there were. As a youngster 

 has taken 40, 50, or 60 crabs in a creel; there would not now be a dozen crabs 

 in a creel. Does not know what the decrease is due to ; but thinks that they 

 catch more full crabs to the southward, and more out of condition on his own 

 ground. Recollects smacks coming down from London for crabs before the 

 railway was opened. The crabs have been decreasing ever since. This looks 

 as if the crabs were being over-fished. The crabs spawn about November. 

 Thinks it would be a good thing to prevent crabs being caught in November, 

 December, January, and February. It would be no injury to the fishermen, who 

 can always get bait because of the railways, which bring them mussels. 

 Mussels cost here about 11. a ton in carriage by rail; this is the chief cause 

 of the expense of mussels. Thinks it would be a good thing to throw back all 

 crabs below 5 inches. Thinks the fishermen would be in favour of this law. 

 Fishermen would like a law to say that no crabs should be taken in November, 

 December, January, and February, and no crabs under five inches at any time. 

 A close season in June, July, and August would be absurd because they are 

 then in good condition. 



Peter Tester (recalled). Blames the trawlers on this coast. They come all 

 over the crab ground and keep the crabs they trawl up. They began to come 

 three years ago. There were very few trawlers before that time. The crabs 

 decreased 20 years ago, but there has been a decided decrease since trawlers 

 came on the coast. The trawlers come principally from the Firth of Forth. 

 Is in favour of a law stopping all inshore trawling. The trawlers also inter- 

 fere with the lines. 



James Marr (examined by Mr. Young). Lives at Cove; has been a salmon 



fisherman for 25 years. Has paid some attention to crab fishing on the coast. Is 



Decrease. sure they do not catch so many crabs now as they did 10 years ago. The crabs 



are not much smaller but much less numerous. Can't tell what is the cause of 



• the decrease. 



Thinks too many breeding crabs are taken. The crabs get out of condition 

 in November. 



Has formerly seen in the Bay of Nigg 70 to 80 crabs in one net, and now there 

 are not a dozen taken. The boats do not engage regularly in the crab fishery; 

 a few crabs (the best) are sold, and the rest are kept for bait. There is very 

 little fishing for crabs in the winter months except for bait. The fishermen 

 might object to being stopped fishing from November to February, because 

 Trawlers. t ne Da it is valuable. Thinks the trawlers have done as much harm as anything. 



They sweep up everything small and large. 



Close time. 



Decrease. 



Spawning. 

 Close time. 



Gauge. 



Trawlers. 



