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tide-mark. Has no doubt that if these crabs were protected the crab fishing CRABS, 

 on this coast would greatly improve. 



All crabs under 5 inches should go back into the water. Crabs do not grow Gauge. 

 so large here as about Peterhead and in the South. A rule was made in the 

 Firth of Forth that no crabs under 5 inches should be sold. Those under 5 

 inches go two for one. The price has increased 50 per cent, in the markets at 

 London and other places. Does not know the rate of growth in the crab. 

 All crabs now counted two for one should be returned. Does not get so many LOBSTERS. 



lobsters now as he got four years ago. The reason is that there are not so 



many about. Lobster fishing is not of much consequence on this coast. Decrease. 

 They are caught principally about Rosehearty. All lobsters under 4£ inches Gauge. 

 in barrel, or 7 inches in length, should be returned to the water. A whole 

 lobster is 7 inches in length, and all under this size ought to be returned. 

 Does not get so many " half " lobsters as " whole " lobsters. The price has 

 increased. He only gets lobsters when they are coming in from all other 

 parts of the coast. Lobsters then are worth 9d. or 10c?. to Is. per lb. In Price. 

 January, February, and March, however, they fetch long prices. 



In July, August, and September he gets ran or berried lobsters ; these Spawning. 

 should be returned to the water. The spawn should not be killed. Merchants 

 give 5 per cent, more for a ran hen, than for a lobster without spawn. If ran 

 hens were put back, it would increase the number of lobsters. The herring 

 fishing begins about the 10th July. Lobster fishing in this neighbourhood is 

 of little consequence because the men cannot get a good price for them in the 

 London market. 



Walter Noble, fisherman at Fraserburgh. Has fished for crabs and CRABS. 

 lobsters nearly 30 years. Uses 30 creels. Puts his nets down at the end of 

 April, and takes them up on June 20. Then the partans come to shore to Shedding shells. ," 

 cast their shell, and will not take the bait. They will not take bait when soft. 

 They spawn in September and August. The smallest partan is about the size 

 of a man's nail. Catches these in July and August in considerable quantities. 

 A 5-inch crab would be three to four years old. Partans are very good bait. Used for bait. 

 They are called " Pullers " when their shells are loose. " Meticks " is another 

 name for soft crabs. There is plenty of bait at this time of the year (October). 

 Crabs are easiest managed ; they should not be used for bait. There are four 

 boats fishing now for crabs and lobsters at Fraserburgh. The ground is 

 fished out by hunting them so much. The remedy is to put back all crabs 

 that count two for one, and enact a gauge, fixing the minimum size at 5 inches. Gauge. 

 " Two-for-one " crabs should also be preserved. Considerable destruction is 

 caused by women and children catching crabs and lobsters before they have 

 come to maturity. 



Lobsters have fallen off very much. They are too much fished in the sum- LOBSTERS, 

 mer and winter. x\t Rosehearty there are five boats. Each boat carries 25 to 

 30 creels. They work over the ground, which is 4 miles long and extends Decrease. 

 a quarter mile out to sea. Twenty to thirty years ago they used to catch 100, 

 70, or 80 in the 24 hours. They now get a dozen to half a score in the 

 24 hours. Twenty years ago they used to consider a lobster of 9 inches a 

 whole lobster ; below that they went two for one. All below 9 inches should Gauge. 

 be put back. The measurement should be from the joint above the tail. 

 Two-for-one lobsters should be put back. Twenty-eight years ago smacks 

 used to come. The railway was opened 11 years ago. There should be a close close time. 

 time from the end of August to March at Fraserburgh to give the lobsters 

 time to " gather up " again. The railway may be the original cause of scarcity, 

 by opening up new markets. 



William Buchan, Fraserburgh. Has fished for crabs and lobsters for 20 CRABS, 

 years. Crabs have greatly decreased. The cause is the taking of " soil," i.e., ^ 

 young crabs. These young fish are not fit for use. All " two-for-one " crabs, ec7ease - 

 i.e., all under 5 inches, should be put back. Lobsters under 4 J inches Gauge. 

 in the barrel should be put back. The coast is being made bare by the women 

 and children taking the " soil." Crabs should not be allowed to be used for 

 bait. The fishermen could get other bait. 



John Mellis, M.D. Has taken an interest in the fisheries. Suggests that Enforcement of 

 the boats used for the crab and lobster fishery should be licensed and carry a law - 

 distinctive Hag or mark, and be looked after by the coast guard, [f they make 



