28 



LOBSTERS. 



Creels. 



Migration. 



Price. 



Close time. 



Baitfor. 



Decrease. 



Each boat now carries 30 to 40 creels : he (witness) carries 60. The creels are 

 generally placed about 22 yards from each other. The rings were not half that 

 distance from each other. The deepest water in which the rings could be 

 fished was 10 fathoms. The creels are generally fished from 15 to 20 fathoms. 

 As the weather gets warm the lobsters are coming into shoal water. They 

 generally draw in to land on the 1st March, and remain in shoal water till 

 middle of July. Thinks they leave the land in July, return in the harvest 

 time ; and in October they again draw off into deep water. So long as rings 

 were the only instruments in use it was impossible to fish for lobsters from 

 October to March, and therefore during six months there was practically a 

 close time. Attributes decrease to invention of creels. Would be glad to see 

 a law made that it should be illegal to use creels. Does not know what other 

 fishermen would say to such a law, but knows that all fishermen think that 

 creels are the ruin of the fishing. Would be in favour both of a close season 

 and prohibition of creels, but prohibition of creels would practically secure the 

 close season. The creels are destructive in deep water where there are no 

 weeds. In shallow water the weeds close the doors of the creels. There 

 would not be so much harm in using the creels in the summer months. 



Thirty-five years ago lobsters were 4c?. each. Smacks came down from 

 London and carried them away. They were a good few years at 4c?. About 

 20 years ago they became 6d. They remained 6d. for four or five years. They 

 then rose per head 2s. each in February and March, and Is. in April and May. 

 It is two years ago since the railway was made. Never went lobster fishing 

 to the Orkneys nor the Outer Hebrides. Can't carry creels so far, and so is 

 obliged to stay at home. 



(By Mr. Buckland.) Is in favour of prohibiting creels in the winter months 

 and harvest time. But the fishermen might rebel against this. Would himself 

 prefer that creels should be prohibited altogether. Has heard of 9 Geo. II. 

 c. 33 instituting a close season for lobsters, but never knew it observed. Cannot 

 say who should carry out the law. There are no coastguard here. The 

 officers of the White Herring Board might carry the law out. 



John Bain (examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Keiss, seven miles north 

 of this. Has been a fisherman for 13 years. Has been occasionally fishing for 

 lobsters. Begins lobster fishing about March, and goes to the herrings in the 

 middle of May. The herring fishing continues till the 6th September. After 

 that goes out line fishing for haddock and other fish. After that gets herring 

 for bait. Herring is the principal bait. Never used crabs for bait. 13 years ago 

 there were four boats lobster fishing between Duncansby Head and Keiss, now 

 there are five boats. 1 3 years ago fished principally with rings, now almost 

 entirely with creels. Each boat carries different numbers of creels. Can 

 work 40 creels at home, 20 to 30 creels when they go away. There is not one 

 lobster now on the coast, for six 13 years ago. The price of lobsters 13 years 

 ago ranged from 15c?. to 4s. The price is much the same, ifj anything less, now. 

 Can't account for the decrease of price with the decrease of fish. It may be 

 due to the Norway lobster. Would be glad to see a close time for lobsters. 

 The close season should begin about the middle of June, it should not end 

 before the end of January. There are plenty of boats lobster fishing these 

 months, and they ought to be stopped. He does not try for lobsters in those 

 months himself because the lobsters are not good and the price is small. 

 Thinks a close season of this kind would restore the fishery. 



Has heard Mr. Thomson's evidence about creels. Creels are no more destruc- 

 tive than rings. Gets very few small lobsters. Was one year in Orkney, 

 five years ago. Didn't find many lobsters, the weather was unfavourable. 

 This was in January. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) Flounders are the principal bait for lobsters. Lobsters 

 will, but crabs will not, take a stinking bait. Thinks Ran hens should be 

 put back, but they are very valuable. The fishermen might be discontented 

 with a close season, but it would be a benefit to them. 



Finlay McLean (examined by Mr. Buckland). Has been fishing for crabs 

 and lobsters on both sides of the Moray Frith and at the Land's End for 40 

 years. Lobsters have fallen off very much. Used 40 years ago to average 20 

 to 25 lobsters in a night. Wouldn't now perhaps catch seven. In four months 

 caught 1,000 lobsters for Mr. Barnes. Does not know whether he could now 

 catch 400 in the same time. Thinks the decrease is due to their being killed, 



