38 



Mason's Arms Hotel, Stromness, Monday, 16th October 1876. 



LOBSTERS. 

 Decrease. 



Creels. 



Close time. 



Gauge. 



Close time. 



Gauge. 



No decrease. 



Close time. 



No decrease. 



Present : 

 Spencer Walpole and Archibald Young, Esquires. 



Samuel Flett {examined by Mr. Young). Lives at Stromness. Has been 

 engaged in the crab and lobster fisheries for five or six years. The lobsters 

 have fallen off a good deal. Has fish coming in from three different places. 

 In Rackwick Bay, Hoy Island, they commenced with the creels last fall ; they 

 had only used rings before. This spring they got very few lobsters where the 

 creels had been used the previous year. They can fish in deeper water with 

 the creels, and begin earlier. The men began fishing with the creels this year 

 (1876) in February ; they continued till the 1st June. They then left off till 

 about the 1st September, most of them being away at the herring fishery. 

 They finished about the 14th October. Would like to see no lobsters fished 

 in Rackwick Bay from the 1st July to the 1st January. The fish are not 

 strong at that season of the year ; they are not full in the shell. There is a 

 place called Birsay, on the west coast of the mainland. The fishermen cannot 

 fish there so early as they do at Rackwick. The shore is peculiar. They 

 commence at Birsay about the last days of April or 1st of May. Thinks that 

 in that place they should fish till the end of July, otherwise they can do nothing. 

 Would not fish after 1st August. The fishermen there stop fishing now 

 after July. The third place he gets lobsters from is around the small islands 

 to the east of Hoy. There are not many lobsters caught there. Four years 

 ago some fishermen went there with creels, and got some fine large fish. In 

 the following season the lobsters were few and small, and since then many 

 have not been got. Takes lobsters under 9 inches ; refused last year at Birsay 

 to take lobsters under 8 inches. Would approve of a law enacting a close 

 season. This would be good both for the fishermen and for the salesmen. 

 The sale of lobsters should be prohibited in close time. Thinks that it would 

 not do to insist on return of berried hens. Would rely on a close season, and 

 allow the berried hens to be taken in the open months. 



(By Mr. Walpole.) Would perhaps require some supervision to enforce the 

 law. On reflection, thinks that Birsay and Rackwick Bay must have the same 

 close season, and this must commence on the 1st August. It would be unjust to 

 the Birsay men to close July. Sends the lobsters to London, Liverpool, and 

 Manchester. The price is very fluctuating : it has been very low lately. Thinks 

 that an 8-inch gauge is too small, and that a 9-inch gauge is preferable. 



Peter Sinclair (examined by Mr. Walpole). Lives at Stromness. Has been 

 a fisherman for 30 years, and fished for lobsters all that time more or less. Most 

 of them are got outside in the Atlantic, a few are got inside. 30 years ago 

 used to get 800 to 1,200 lobsters a year, according to the season. In those days 

 commen<ced fishing about March and ended about the 12th July. There were 

 then only three boats from Rackwick, and there are now nine. They don't 

 fish the same ground as he does. The boats which fish the same ground as he 

 does have also increased, and each boat carries three times the material. Each 

 boat now takes from 600 to 800 lobsters a season. 30 years ago three 

 boats would have got 1,000 lobsters each, or 3,000. Now nine boats could get 

 700 each, or 6,300 lobsters. Believes that the ground produces now as many 

 lobsters as it did 30 years ago. 30 years ago fished in 5 fathoms water, 

 now fishes up to 18 fathoms. Gets superior fish in that water, which were 

 never caught before. Is very well satisfied, except that he thinks that fish 

 should be let alone in the spawning season. By the spawning season, means- 

 June, July, August, and September. Thinks most of the fishermen round 

 this coast will agree to this close season. The Birsay men would be able to 

 catch the lobsters in the other months if they choose to try for them, but they 

 must work harder. Would approve of returning all lobsters under 9 inches. 



(By Mr. Young.) Has heard of the 9 Geo. II. fixing a close season for 

 June, July, August. It has never been observed. Believes there are as many 

 lobsters now as there used to be. 



William Stanger (examined by Mr. Young). Lives at Stromness. Has 

 been a fisherman for 12 years. Is a partner of previous witness. Agrees with 

 his evidence. Has nothing else to say. 



