34 



Herring fishery fishers are too well oif to prosecute the fishery. They can make more money by 

 other means, such as herring, cod, and haddock fishing, Would have no 

 objection to the enforcement of a gauge, and agrees that partans under 5 inches 

 and all lobsters under 8 inches should be returned to the water. Thinks it 

 would be desirable to have a close time for lobsters according to the indi- 

 vidual locality. Caithness is a month later than other counties, both with 

 harvest and game, and probably also fish. 



LOBSTERS. 

 Size of. 



Decrease. 



Gauge. 



Close time. 



Gauge. 

 Close time. 



Ackergill, Saturday, 14th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland, Esquire. 



Catherine Morrison. Crabs and lobsters are sent away on Wednesdays 

 and Thursdays to Wick to suit the steamers going to Aberdeen. The price has 

 not increased. There are two sizes of lobsters, the largest 10 inches, the 

 smallest 8 inches ; this is the average size. Thinks that before the railways 

 came crabs and lobsters were more plentiful. Remembers large lobsters being 

 sold here for 3c?. or Ad. each. 



W. Reid, fish curer, living at Keiss. Lobsters have fallen ofP. There are 

 two boats fishing — three men in each boat. There are 30 creels in each boat. 

 They begin fishing in February, and leave off in May. The space of ground 

 for the fishermen where crabs and lobsters are found is small, and they have 

 very nearly ceased fishing for crabs and lobsters. 



James Bain. Crabs are no object to the fishermen here. Would not 

 object to a gauge of 8 inches for lobsters. Would have a close time from 

 August 1st to February 1st. Goes to the herring fishery when not engaged 

 with the lobsters. Sends his lobsters away by steamer. 



James Mowat, fish curer. Agrees with the 5-inch gauge for crabs, and 

 an 8-inch gauge for lobsters. Thinks there should be a close time to allow 

 the lobsters to multiply. The ground is over-fished. The close time should 

 be from the 1st of August to 1st of February. 



Price. 



Decrease. 



The Castle Hotel, Kirkwall, Monday, 16th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Spencer Walpole and Archibald Young, Esquires. 



Robert Brough {examined by Mr. Walpole). A fish-merchant at Kirkwall : 

 has been in business between 20 and 30 years. Has been buying lobsters 

 all this time from the fishermen and sending them to London and other parts. 

 There were steamers 20 or 30 years ago by which the lobsters were sent away. 

 They go now by steamer to Aberdeen and thence by rail. His recollection 

 does not go back to the period when there were no steamers. When he com- 

 menced business, lobsters were Id. to Sd. each, the price now is 14c?. to I8d. 

 The price has risen over 100 per cent. Thinks that lobsters are scarcer, and 

 that the scarcity, due to over fishing, has led to an increased price. Does not 

 think that the increased demand has produced a rise in price. When he 

 began business took no lobsters under 9 inches. Two men, 20 to 30 years ago, 

 would take 1,200 to 1,400 lobsters in a fishing season. Now they would not get 

 above 200 lobsters. 20 or 30 years ago the fishermen used rings, now they 

 use both creels and rings. The men fish in the same localities, but the creels 

 enable them to fish in deeper water. Believes that there is only one lobster 

 now where there were six twenty years ago. Thinks that this scarcity is due to 

 over-fishing. The decrease has been gradual. Attributes it to over-fishing and 

 fishing at the wrong period of the year. By over-fishing means there are too 

 many fishermen. The principal grounds are Westray, Papa Westray, Eday 

 (a fine fishing place), San day, North Ronaldsay, Stronsay, Rowsay, Scapa, 



