21 



fishes with creels and rings. There are now more creels and rings than there CRABS. 



were four years ago. The crab merchants have instituted a gauge of 4 inches 



across the back ; crabs under this gauge go two for one. He would prefer 



to put back into the water all crabs under 5 inches than give the merchants 



two for one. Would not think it oppressive to put back crabs under 5 inches. Gauge. 



Begins to fish in April and May. In the winter the crabs retire into 

 deep water; and seaweed grows on their back. The close time should be from Migration. 

 the 1st of September to the 1st of April. June is the best month for crabs, 

 because the creels will then stand best. Goes on catching crabs till July 

 and then goes to the herring fishery. 



Lobsters are getting scarce. Has heard of the lobsters being killed by the LOBSTERS, 

 wreck of the vessel laden with tobacco. The tide about Rattray Point runs D ecrease 

 north and south. The general size of lobsters about here is very large. 

 Approves of the gauge of 4£ inches in the barrel for lobsters ; all under that size Gauge. 

 should be returned to the water. Sells them by the pound. Gets from 8d. 

 to 10c?. per lb. for them. 



Catches spawning hens all the year round. Would like to keep the Spaioning. 

 hens for the market. His market for crabs and lobsters is Manchester and 

 London. 



William Buchan. Fished for crabs last season. Began in July and 

 fished on to the 2nd of August. The season about here closes itself about the Weather. 

 1st of September. After that the creels will not stand on the ground on 

 account of rough weather. Agrees that it would be better to put back crabs 

 that are sold two for one, than sell them. Lobsters under A\ inches in the Gauge. 

 barrel should be put back. Did not catch over 50 lobsters last year; the year 

 before he caught about a hundred, and about the same number previous 

 years. The bottom of the sea about here is all rock, except a belt of 

 sand about a mile broad. The ground is too wide spread to allow the lobsters 

 to be fished out. The lobsters about here are very large. Crabs are used for CRABS, 

 bait in July, August, and September. Used ~ 



William Davidson, an old man, and crab fisher. Would not keep any se Jor 

 crabs below 5 inches. AVould put them back rather than sell them two for Gauge. 

 one. He must have crabs of all sizes for bait, for taking cod. Mussels are no 

 good. The cod come in, seeking the crabs when they are shedding their shells. 

 The bait he uses at that time is soft crabs. When fishing for crabs for sale, 

 would have no objection to turn back the small ones, but when the cod come Used for bait. 

 in they are very necessary for bait. 



Mrs. Davidson gathers crabs for bait. If not allowed to collect them in 

 July and August it would be a great loss, because her husband and some other 

 old men must have the crabs for bait. Has tried other bait but it failed. At 

 this season her husband must have crabs to catch the cod. Mussels would 

 not do. 



Inverallochy, Tuesday, 10th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland, Esquire. 



William Strachan, fisherman. Throws back all crabs under 4 inches, Gauge. 

 because the curers will not buy them, or they go two for one. If these were 

 thrown back, crabs would be more plentiful. Begins fishing the 1st of 

 April ; about the end of July he stops fishing and goes to the herring fishery. 

 Between September and April he cannot fish. The only time he can fish is close time. 

 from the 1st of April to the end of August. 30 years ago he used to fish for 

 crabs for bait; he now fishes for them only for the market. He could sell 

 double the number if he could only get them. The coast in the neighbourhood 

 is rock and sand. 



Lobsters used to be plentiful 12 years ago ; cannot say why they have fallen LOBSTERS. 



£P 



* "DcCVCCtSGm 



William Stevens. Has been fishing the last three seasons. The first year *" CRABS 



he caught a great many crabs ; the second year they were not so plentiful ; the 



third year he caught as many as he did the first year. For the last three years he Decrease. 



