29 



big and little, all the year round, Has not fished for lobsters for four years, crabs. 



the fishing is so bad. He fishes now from Sinclair's Bay to Wick Bay. 



Fishes now for crabs. Has occasionally sent them to Aberdeen. Sometimes 



sells them here. They have not decreased. They are principally used for bait, Used for bait. 



and from the month of April to the end of October they are important as 



bait for cod, haddock, and coal fish. There are no mussels nearer than the 



Dornoch Firth. A great many crabs are broken up for bait in the course of 



the year. Has had from 70 to 80 crabs in each of four creels made for the 



purpose of catching them. The greater part of these crabs were used as food, 



the rest for bait. It would be a great hardship to prevent the crabs being used 



for bait. There are six families in one village in Sinclair's Bay who live 



entirely by using crabs for bait. Can't get herrings for bait in October. 



Thinks a close season for lobsters would be very good, but it should be in LOBSTERS, 

 the spawning season. Lobsters spawn all the year round. The greater 

 number of lobsters are spawning between June and September. These four Spawning. 

 months should be closed. The close season should apply both to Cornwall Close time. 

 and Scotland. The Wick fishermen do not use crabs for bait. 



{By Mr. Walpole.) The 1,000 lobsters caught in four months for Mr. Barnes 

 were taken in Banffshire between Port Knockie and Portsoy. Has not 

 been on that ground for 24 years. But from the accounts he has had thinks 

 he couldn't get 1,000 lobsters there now. Has not been to the Land's End for 

 32 years. Was there in February and March. The weather wasn't too bad to 

 fish some nights. Doesn't know whether stopping fishing in summer months 

 in Cornwall and the Atlantic side of the Lews would be tantamount to stopping 

 fishing altogether. Is over threescore years old and has not prosecuted 

 lobster fishing for three or four years. Hasn't given up lobster fishing Decrease. 

 because of his age, but because the lobsters are too few. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) The best season for lobsters here is from January to Season for. 

 June. From June to September they are watery and bad. 



David Gunn {examined by Mr. Walpole). Is a fish merchant in Wick. Has 

 been in business for 35 or 40 years. Buys lobsters from fishermen and sends 

 them away. Thirty-five years ago had dealings with about four boats. Lobsters 

 were 3^d. to 4d. They were sent away by steamer to London and Leith. Lost Price. 

 a great many lobsters in the transit in the hot weather. In the cold weather 

 they carried easily. There was a good deal of loss in the transit in the summer 

 months. The price is usually low in the summer months. Attributes this (1) 

 to increased supply in London markets from other places, and (2) to difficulty 

 of carrying the lobsters in hot weather. In 1852 the price of lobsters was 6d.; 

 in 1857 5d. They remained at 6c?. till about 1855, and then gradually rose to 

 Is. and Is. 6d. There was no falling off of lobsters before 1851. After 

 1851 there was an increased competition for lobsters in the Wick market. 

 This led to increased fishing and increased price. The increase of price was 

 first due not to decreased supply but increased demand. From about 1860 

 there has been a decrease in the supply. Attributes this decreased supply to 

 the over-fishing consequent on the increased demand after 1851. Thinks the 

 proper remedy is to do away with the creels. Is not sure that the lobsters are Creels. 

 not becoming accustomed to creels and won't get into them. Thinks that the 

 men in shallow water might catch more lobsters in rings than in creels. The 

 creel is not so much concealed with the weed as the ring. The diameter of 

 the ring is 21 inches. The creel is 2 to 3 feet by 16 inches deep. Wishes to 

 resume ring fishing (1) because he considers it more efficient in shallow 

 water, and (2) because it would be a protection to lobsters in deep water. If 

 rings only were used, would be only possible to catch lobsters from 1st March 

 to 15th June. There is a great demand for lobsters in the London market in 

 January, February, and March. Could get some lobsters in rings in these 

 months. 



Doesn't deal in crabs. Thinks they are falling off very much. The people CRABS, 

 used to bring them into the town by cartloads, now there are hardly any. — 



The district in which they are caught, Sinclair's Bay, is narrow; they are Decrease. 

 over-fished and so falling off. Would give lobsters and crabs the same close Close time. 

 season, June, July, and August. During the rest of the year lobsters and 

 crabs might both be taken. 



{By Mr. Buckland.) Welled boats were given up because they didn't pay. 

 There was less loss by the steamer than by welled boats. Some of the fisher- 



