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LOBSTERS, men would object to a close season in June, July, and August. This used to 

 be the close season. The merchants would not formerly take them after the 

 15th June. Now they take them at any time of the year. Doesn't think that 

 the lobster fishery will entirely be destroyed without fresh legislation, but it 

 will decrease very much. Is in favour of a standard of 4| inches in the barrel. 



Gauge. This is now the standard for a full fish. There are parts of the coast (near 



Hoy) where the lobsters are very small. They are large at other places 

 (Dunnet for instance). Has seen 1,000 lobsters in April, and not two lobsters 

 over 4| inches. These were from the north coast of Hoy Island. The lobsters 

 are always small there. It may be a small breed. Got 2s. 6d. each in London 

 for these small lobsters. Eight days afterwards only got 4c?. apiece in London 

 for lobsters. Doesn't know who could carry out close season unless a party 

 was appointed for the purpose. 



Alexander Mitchell, chief constable, Caithness-shire (examined by Mr. 

 Buckland). Is acquainted with crabs and lobsters from seeing them in 

 market. Crab fishing is not prosecuted to the south of Wick. North of Wick 

 and on the shores of the Pentland Frith the lobster fishery is of considerable 



Decrease. importance. There is no doubt that the supply of lobsters has been falling 



off. This is due to the increased price and consequent over-fishing. Would 

 propose, as a remedy, to limit the fishing season, and to prevent the capture 

 of small immature fish. Is not sufficiently acquainted with the subject to say 

 what the close season should be, or what the gauge should be. No Act like the 

 9 Geo. II. c. 33 has ever been enforced in the county of Caithness. The people 

 are not aware of it. Thinks that there would be no difficulty in carrying out 

 the law of close season. The fishermen are a law-abiding people, and would 

 obey the law with very little compulsion. The fishery officers might carry it 

 out where they are stationed; and north of Wick, where there are no fishery 

 officers, it could be enforced by the police. After May the whole population is 

 absorbed by the herring fishery, and none but old men are left. They return 

 from the Lews in the middle of June, but are so busy in preparing for the 

 east coast fishing that all other fishing is disregarded^till September, when they 

 commence haddock fishing. The lobsters therefore have a very good time 

 of it. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) The duties of the police would not be materially in- 

 creased by their employment on these services. Would perhaps have to apply 

 for one additional man. Does not think that it would be fair to tax the 

 agricultural ratepayers to protect fisheries, and is aware of no authority who 

 could pay for it unless the Fishery Board undertook it. Believes the Fishery 

 Board to be self-supporting. 



Donald Thomson {recalled), The lobsters will get out of the pots when 

 daylight begins. It is easier for them to get in than out. Believes that the 



Get out of creels, lobsters are getting acquainted with the creel. They go out and in of the 

 creel very quick. When the creels are in one place the lobsters get accustomed 

 to them, and they have to shift the creels. 



John Mackie, editor of the " Northern Ensign " (examined by Mr. Walpole). 

 Has lived 33 years in Wick ; has interested himself a good deal in the fisheries. 

 Concurs with Mr. Thomson's evidence almost entirely. There has been a very 



Decrease. great decrease in supply of lobsters on the coast, and this is due to the over- 

 fishing. Concurs also with the remedies which Mr. Thomson proposes. These 

 are the prohibition of creels, the close season, and a gauge. Thinks a close 

 season would be the most comprehensive remedy. Thinks that the creel is 

 certainly a more efficient engine than the ring, and that a close season would 

 be better and cover the difficulty. Thinks that Parliament should be guided by 

 the evidence of the fishermen as to what the close season should be. Thinks 

 it necessary to have a gauge for lobsters. Thinks that the capture of the 1,000 

 small lobsters on the north-west coast of Hoy was a wholly exceptional event, 

 and ought not to regulate legislation. 

 CRABS. The existence of crabs in the locality is purely nominal ; they have fallen off 

 very much, and are a great scarcity in the market. There were a great many 



Decrease. crabs 20 years ago. The locality is not unsuited to crabs, but something has 



interfered with their production; this no doubt is over-fishing. Proposes 

 for crabs the same remedies as Mr. Gunn suggests. 



The herring fishers are not usually the crab and lobster fishers. None of 

 the Dunnet men go to the crab and lobster fishing. The attraction of the 



