26 



CRABS. 



Decrease. 



Close time. 



LOBSTERS. 



Decrease. 



Spawning. 

 Gauge. 



Close time. 



Decrease. 



CRABS. 



Gauge. 



LOBSTERS. 



Price. 



The number of boats engaged in crab fishing is four times greater than 

 35 years ago. Far more crabs would be got with the increased number 

 of boats and pots now if the crabs were as plentiful as formerly, but only a 

 fourth part are taken nowadays. The number of crabs has, therefore, very 

 greatly diminished. The fishermen used to return all crabs under 6 inches to 

 the water. Thinks that over-fishing is the cause of the diminution. Some of 

 the boats engaged in crabbing have from 20 to 30 pots. Crabs are not used 

 here as bait for the long lines, limpets are used. There are no mussel scalps 

 on this part of the coast. Is in favour of a gauge, and would return all crabs 

 under 5 inches to the sea. Crabs are in the best condition just now (October). 

 Next month they begin to fall off and get watery. There is scarcely any meat 

 in their shells, only in the claws. Approves of a close time for crabs, from 

 1st November to 1st March. 



Lobsters are getting scarce. Four times as many were taken 35 years ago 

 as are taken now, yet there are now four times as many boats fishing. 35 

 years ago 2\d. and 3d. was the price of a marketable lobster ; now Is. 6d. is 

 paid. Lobsters are now sent south by train, London is the chief market. 

 Thinks that lobsters spawn in June. Berried hens bring the highest price in 

 the market. Would put back all lobsters under 4 inches in the barrel. Never 

 heard of any Act of Parliament fixing a close time for lobsters. They are 

 fished for here the whole year round. Thinks that there should be a close time 

 from 1st March till the end of June. 



Remembers smacks coming down from London more than 30 years ago. 

 There were then two or three smacks. They took the whole catch from Loch 

 Erribol to Duncansby Head. Loch Erribol was then a great place for 

 lobsters. More than 10,000 were taken from it in a single season ; but owing 

 to the over-fishing to supply these smacks, the fishing there and all along the 

 north coast has very much fallen off. The over-fishing began with these smacks. 

 If you have a close time for crabs and lobsters you must also forbid buying, 

 selling, or having in possession for the purposes of sale any crabs or lobsters 

 during such close season. The fishermen about here have been talking of the 

 necessity of a close time. They find that the fisheries are suffering from the 

 want of it. It is only the present high prices that are keeping them up. 



William Manson, Thurso. Has been 40 years a fisherman and has had 

 a good deal of experience in the crab and lobster fisheries. Agrees with the 

 preceding witness that there has been a great falling off in these fisheries. 

 Both crabs and lobsters have very much increased in price. There ought to be 

 a gauge, and no crab under 5 inches should be allowed to be taken, and no 

 lobster under 4 inches in the barrel. Has heard the evidence of the pre- 

 ceding witness and entirely agrees with it. 



William Dunbar, Brawl Castle, Thurso. Has had a long and ex- 

 tensive acquaintance with the fisheries on this part of the coast. Used to 

 get large numbers of lobsters 25 years ago. Both crabs and lobsters have now 

 fallen off at least half. Thinks this is very much owing to the over-fishing. 

 From the improved appliances for fishing and the increased number of boats, 

 the fishermen now should get twice as many crabs and lobsters as they did 

 formerly if they were as plentiful, whereas they only get half as many ; there 

 should be a gauge and all crabs under 5 inches should be returned to the sea. 

 Would also have a gauge for lobsters and would return all under 4| inches in 

 the barrel. It is "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs " to take them 

 too young. Crabs are now (October) in about the best condition. They begin to 

 fall off in November. Male crabs are in good order at Christmas. Would have 

 no close time for crabs ; a 5-inch gauge would be sufficient. The gauge would 

 require to be combined with a provision against buying, selling, or having in 

 possession for the purposes of sale any crab or lobster under the prescribed size. 

 Remembers the smacks coming down from London 32 years ago. In 1844 

 they came to Loch Laxford for lobsters ; but they had been down on the coast 

 for years before. They took the whole catch along the west and north coasts 

 from Ru More near Loch Broom to Strathy Head half way between Cape Wrath 

 and Duncansby Head. One smack would take from 20,000 to 30,000 lobsters. 

 The fisheries have never recovered the over-fishing at that time. These 

 smacks used to give 6d., ?d., and 8c?. for lobsters of Ah, inches in the barrel and 

 upwards. The small lobsters below that size counted two for one, The 

 fishermen can now fish with the creels where they could not fish with the 



