37 



both rings and creels, and more of them. If the lobsters were as plentiful as LOBSTERS. 



they were, they ought, with the increased machinery to catch double the number 



of lobsters. 



Thinks that the falling off is due to over-fishing. Is in favour of a close Close time. 



season from the 1st July to the end of October, and would prohibit the sale of 



lobsters during these months. The close season would not restore the fishery 



to what it was, but would make a change for the better. Would also return 



all lobsters under 9 inches. Would take berried hens, except during close Gauge. 



season. 



Agrees generally with the preceding witnesses. There are a few lobsters 



to be found on every ground, but not many now. Catches crabs only when 



fishing for lobsters. They are beginning to go out of condition now (October). 



Crabs are not used for bait. The fishermen use mussels, which they get for 



themselves. Thinks July, August, September, and October would be a suffi- Close time. 



cient close season. The crabs should be as good in May and June as at any 



time. 



{By Mr. Walpole). Fishes nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast. Doesn't go 



far out. The lobster ground extends a good distance out. The water he fishes 



in is 5 to 6 fathoms. There are fewer lobsters than there used to be. Has In deep water. 



been out to 10 fathoms water, but didn't get so many lobsters as inshore. 



There is no reason why they shouldn't go out. Some Banffshire boats came 



down and went out 15 to 18 fathoms, and they were successful. It is not the 



practice of the fishermen to go out so deep. 



John Hercus {examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Kirkwall. Has been 



a fisherman for 15 years. Has fished for lobsters chiefly in the North islands. 



15 years ago used both creels and rings, but fewer of them. Now the fishermen Decrease. 



use about 40 creels and 40 rings, then about 30 and 20 rings. 15 years ago 



used to get about 800 lobsters in a good season (March to July). Now gets 

 about 300 lobsters in the same months. Does not get half so many as he used 

 to 15 years ago. 



Does not think that there are many more boats on the lobster ground. 

 There are not half so many lobsters in the sea as there were 15 years ago. 



Fished 15 years ago in 6 and 7 fathoms water, and fishes in the same 

 depth now. Doesn't know whether it would be a good thing to try deeper 

 water. 



Believes that a close season would be a good thing. It should commence in Close time. 

 July and end in October. The fishermen, as a rule, go on to the herrings in 

 July, and stay herring fishing till 6th September. Never fish for lobsters then ; 

 but there are some fishermen who fish all through. Doesn't know why these 

 men don't go to the herrings. 



Would not think it unfair if he were made to return all small lobsters under Gauge. 

 9 inches to the sea. They would grow into big ones if they lived long enough. 

 Thinks it would be very well to return the berried hens when the berries Berried liens. 

 become reddish. They get a good few of these about June and July. 



Robert Brough {examined by Mr. Young). A fisherman living in 

 Kirkwall. Has been a fisherman about 10 years. Agrees that there has been 

 a decrease in the number and size of lobsters, and that a close season and Decrease. 

 a gauge would be necessary. It would be easy to remove all the berries 

 from a berried lobster. 



{By Mr. Walpole.) Thinks it would be impossible to detect removal of 

 berries, and it would be absurd to make such a law. Fishes in about 5 fathoms In deep water 

 of water. Has never tried deeper water. Thinks it would be a good thing to 

 try deeper water, but it takes the fishermen from home, and is lonely. At 

 present comes home every day, but if he fished in deeper water would have to 

 stop away a week. 



{By Mr. Young.) The true way to enforce a close season would be to prevent Close time. 

 the sale of lobsters. 



The men get large crabs here, measuring 5 or 6 inches across the back, but CRABS, 

 they only sell them locally. They will not carry. The lobsters have their jym notcarry. 

 claws tied and are packed in seaweed. 



