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should count two for one. The cause of the decrease is the invention of creels, CRABS, 



which catch the lobsters in winter, so that they cannot be got in spring. If he c , , " 

 were a king, he would make an Act of Parliament putting an end to creels 

 altogether in the winter, and would have a close time for creels, allowing them LOBSTERS, 

 to fish only from March to the 9th July, when the herring fishing begins ; all G 

 lobsters of less than 8 inches, and crabs less than 5, should be put back into 

 the sea. 



Would allow no creels at all to fish in December, January, and February. Close time. 

 Good lobsters might be caught after July 16th, but the fishermen are all then 

 gone to the herring fishery. 



Hugh Mackenzie, landlord of John O'Groat's Hotel. Has known the 

 place for 10 years. Knows all the fishermen at Huna and Stroma, and Yells. 

 There are about 150 small boats from Duncansby Head to Dunnet Head, in- 

 cluding Stroma, fishing for crabs and lobsters. Last year lobsters fell off, and ■'Decrease. 

 this year they have increased. The fishermen blame the creels which are used 

 in winter, for the falling off. The lobsters cannot get out of the creels, and 

 they fish day and night all the winter. Rings are used in the summer, from 

 March to July. There should be a close time in December, January, and Close time. 

 February. The Stroma men depend much upon the winter fishing in these 

 months, and it would be unfair to them to have the loss of three months. 

 One crew there has caught 41. to 51. worth of lobsters in one week in the 

 winter ; and has not been able to get out again to the fishery for a month. 



Thrumster, Saturday, 14th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland, Esquire. 



Andrew Comer, fisherman, Sarclet. Knows the coast of Caithness. There C RAB S 

 are 56 boats on the Sarclet estate. None of them go for crabs and lobsters, but 

 fish for haddock, cod, &c. Has seen boats coming from Staxigo carrying 

 creels. They come in the summer — in May and June. There are plenty of 

 crabs and lobsters in the Voes between Wick and Sarclet. Catches partans 

 with the clip among the rocks ; uses them as food for himself and family. 

 Begins herring fishing at the Lews on the 10th May, and returns on July 6th. 

 Then goes to the herring fishery till the 10th September, and after that to the 

 haddock fishing. Has seen partans 8 inches across the back ; the smallest 

 are 3 inches. Uses limpets for bait for white fish. There are no mussel scalps Bait. 

 in the neighbourhood. It would be a very great advantage to establish mussel 

 scalps if possible, but the storms would not allow the mussels to remain. The 

 fishermen here are also farmers, and only fish for herring or cod, having no 

 time for the crab and lobster fishery. It pays better to look after the herrings. Vahieless. 

 Twelve years ago Captain Bentley Innes brought some lobster pots from York- 

 shire, and gave them to some of the fishermen ; these fishermen got many 

 good lobsters in the Voes. Has seen lobsters travelling about in the Voes. 

 It is not worth his while to fish for them. The people about here are half 

 farmers and half fishermen, and will not attend to the crab and lobster fishery. 

 Thinks all crabs under 5 inches and all lobsters under 8 inches should be Gauge. 

 returned to the sea. 



Angus Moore, Sarclet. Has been a fisher for 30 years. Has mostly Herring 

 fished for haddock, herring, and cod. Never fished for crabs and lobsters. 

 Does not think it worth his while. Boats sometimes come from Ackergill. 

 Does not know what they catch. Is acquainted with the shore from Noss 

 Head to Wick, a distance of 9 miles. Thinks there are plenty of crabs and 

 lobsters if the fishing were prosecuted. There are lobsters between Sarclet 

 and "Wick. Haddock fishing pays better than lobster fishing. Opposite 

 Sarclet the water is deep, from 9 to 20 fathoms. The cliffs are 200 feet high. 

 Has never seen the skins or shells of crabs or lobsters thrown up. 



Captain Bentley Innes. Is owner of Sarclet. Has heard the foregoing 

 evidence, and corroborates the statement as to the experiment with the lobster 

 pots 12 years ago. Knows that crabs and lobsters are in the Voes, but the 



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