25 



carriage of lobsters from Strome Ferry to London is 31. 15.9. to 41. per ton. Is 

 not afraid of the fisheries being exhausted. All that is required is transit 

 facility. There are beds of crabs and lobsters on the Atlantic side which have 

 never been touched by the hand of man, and will last for 1,000 years. The 

 traffic which he spoke of at Benbecula goes on to Barra Head. In the fishing 

 season there is an increase of 15,000 to 20,000 people in the population of the 

 Long Island. 



If the Atlantic fisheries were opened up no close time and no gauge would 

 be required for either crabs or lobsters. 



Adam Macdonald (examined by Mr. Young). Is a pastry-cook in the CRABS. 

 High Street, Inverness. Used to deal largely in crabs and lobsters. Since 

 18-1:2 he has been purchasing them for the purpose of sale. They are 

 not nearly so plentiful now as they were in 1 842 ; have fallen off more 

 than one half. Used to get them from the fishers at Nairn, who went over 

 to Brora, where the crabs were caught. They have not fallen off in size. 

 Thinks the decrease is due to the fishermen killing the hen crabs when they Decrease. 

 are berried. He refuses to take them personally when they are berried. The 

 hen crab in spawn is full of water. The hen lobsler in berry is in its best 

 condition. On this coast, the hen crabs get out of condition about the middle Season for. 

 of October. There is little meat in the shell then. Has heard that the 

 fishermen use the crabs for bait, but does not know it of his own knowledge. 

 Mussels are the principal bait. Sand eels and herrings are used when they can 

 be got. Used to buy crabs as small as 4 inches, never below this. Has seen a 

 very good 4-inch crab, but does not think they are so wholesome as the larger. 

 Would return all crabs below 4^ inches to the sea. The fishermen tell him Gauge. 

 that the crabs in these localities have been fished out. Thinks that there 

 should be a close season for crabs from 1st November to 1st March. A Close time. 

 4|-inch gauge, combined with a close time in those months, would be a great 

 benefit to the crab fisheries. 



The lobsters have fallen off equally with the crabs. Has to send now to LOBSTERS. 

 Wick or Kirkwall for his lobsters. They go from Wick to Aberdeen per B 

 steamer, and thence here by rail. The price of lobsters and crabs has doubled 

 since 1842. This is due both to the increased demand for them and to the 

 difficulty of getting them. Thinks it would be a good thing to have a gauge Gauge. 

 for lobsters. No lobster should be taken under 5 inches in the barrel. There 

 should not be a close time for lobsters. They are in season all the year round. Season for. 

 Never heard of the 9 Geo. II. c. 33, s. 4, which imposes a close season for 

 lobsters. The fishermen are not aware of it. The lobsters are in excellent 

 condition in that close season — June, July, and August. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) Crabs are of no use in May ; better in June, and go on CRABS. 

 getting better. Not good enough to be eaten in June ; may be eaten in July. ' 



Is speaking of the female crabs. The male crabs are in good order at Christ- " eason f° r ' 

 mas. Very good order in January and February. Would not like to say they 

 were in good order to March and April. The principal demand here is for 

 females. There would be no difficulty in making the close season applicable 

 to any females. The males are not in good order in November, they get in 

 good order about Christmas. 



Eoyal Hotel, Thurso, Friday, 13th October 1876. 



Present: 



Archibald Young, Esquire. 



William Thomson, residing in Thurso. Has been a crab and lobster 

 fisherman for 35 years. There are a good many crabs all about the coast from 

 Loch Erribol to Duncansby Head ; but not a fourth of the number are now Decrease. 

 taken that were got 35 years ago. There has been a decrease also in size. 

 Fished with rings when he was first a fisherman ; but about 15 years ago the 

 fishermen gave up the rings and used crab-pots instead. These are much 

 more deadly than the rings. 



