rings. They can fish in much deeper water. It is only the increased prices LOBSTERS. 



that keep up the fishings. A man could not now make half wages at the old 



prices. Lochs Laxford and Erribol and the Kyles of Tongue are almost fished 



out. They would not now yield anything like half of what they used to yield. 



Never heard of the Act 9 Geo. II. c. 33, s. 4, enacting a close time for lobsters 



from 1st June to 1st September. It is neither known nor observed here. The 



close months in that Act would be very suitable for lobsters in this country, 



for the lobsters are then out of condition. But the Norwegian lobsters are 



then in first-rate condition, at least up to the 10th August. Would have no 



close time for lobsters, but a 4|-inch barrel gauge. Would allow berried hens Gauge. 



to be taken all the year round. Berried hens are the most valuable lobsters in Berried. 



the market. There would be plenty left for stock. The gauge would provide 



against killing them too young. Crabs are never used as bait for the long 



lines here, but limpets chiefly, and sometimes mussels. 



The Town Hall, Wick, Friday, 13th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland and Spencer Walpole, Esquires. 



Donald Thomson {examined by Mr. Buckland). Lives at Dunnet Head CRABS. 



Has been a fisherman for 35 years, from the Ord of Caithness to Cape Wrath. 

 Till within the last few years fished with rings, fishes now with creels. The 

 supply of crabs has fallen off far more than one half in number. They have Decrease. 

 not fallen off in size. The average size is 7 inches, but there are some as small 

 as 3 inches. The small crabs are mostly hove overboard, because they are of 

 no value. They are too far from any market to send their crabs. They are 

 given away. His trade is principally in lobsters. Never gives them away. 

 20 years ago they did not commence fishing till 20th April, and continued 

 till 30th June. They think the crabs are rather too many, because they destroy Valueless. 

 the bait for the lobsters. The lobsters are sent by rail to London. 



Has been fishing lobsters 35 years. They have fallen off very much. Used LOBSTERS, 

 formerly to get from 10 to 18 hundred in a year. Now won't get more than 400 

 to 500. Used to have 40 rings. The size of lobsters is much the same. The decrease. 

 lowest size is 8 inches from the tip of the snout to the tail. They don't sell 

 any below that size. The decrease is attributable to the creel fishing. The 

 creels are fishing every day and night all the year round. This should not be 

 allowed. It has been going on during the last seven years. Fishes now with 

 creels only in the Pentland Frith about 6 miles. The creels fish in water from 

 10 to 20 fathoms deep. The fish go away from the land to hibernate. Thinks Migration. 

 that the lobsters are over-fished. Is in favour of a close season for lobsters. Close time. 

 Lobsters should only be fished from the 1st March to the 15th June. The 

 rest of the year should be entirely closed. The lobsters during the rest of the 

 year are full of water and unfit for human food. The lobsters generally spawn Spawning. 

 in July, August, and September. Then finds the Ran hens. Finds a few 

 Ran hens at other periods of the year, but not many. Thinks the Ran hens 

 should always be returned. The fishermen get no more for the Ran hens than 

 the other lobsters. Sells the lobsters to an agent. In cold weather the lobster 

 will live eight days out of water. They are packed in seaweed. The lobsters are 

 measured from the tip of the horn to the end of the tail. Thinks all lobsters 

 under 8 inches should be returned to the water. Never fishes lobsters in harvest Gauge. 

 because they are not good. Has found the cast skins in creels in June and in 

 May. Doesn't know when the young lobsters are hatched out. Has seen 

 lobsters as small as 2 inches. Thinks that heavy gales of wind destroy the Weather. 

 young lobsters. Has no suggestion to make except the close season and the 

 gauge. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) There are about 10 boats on the mainland fishing for Boats. 

 lobsters in the Pentland Frith. There are 12 to 15 from Stroma Island, and 

 there are occasional boats from the coast between Duncansby Head and Wick. 

 35 years ago there were 20 boats from the mainland, and about the same 

 number from Stroma. 35 years ago all these boats had rings and no creels. 



