39 



Peter Sinclair [recalled). The fishermen are all agreed as to the necessity LOBSTERS, 

 for a close time and a gauge. There are eight or nine boats fishing for lobsters 

 now. There were only three, when he began, out of Stromness. There are too 

 many boats for the ground, and there are likely to be more. Lobsters are Creels. 

 bought now at seasons when they could not be carried before. It would not 

 do to prohibit creels. Rings cannot be fished in 20 fathoms water. They Rings. 

 catch plenty of crabs, but there is no market for them. The small crabs are 

 rarely used for bait. There are plenty of mussels. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 



Burghead, Thursday, 19th October 1876. 



Present : 

 Frank Buckland, Esquire, 



Thomas Jenkins, fisherman, of Burghead. Has been in business 38 CRABS. 



years. Crab fishing is prosecuted to a very small extent about here. The 



people fish with clips among the rocks. There is only one boat fishing for 

 crabs. Gets many partans from 4 to 6 inches in length among the rocks. 

 Prices have doubled during the last few years. Lobsters are especially dear. j> r i ce 

 Is in favour of a close time in July and August. No crabs should be sold 

 under 5^ inches across the back, and no lobsters under 4 inches in the 

 barrel. 



John Robb. Has been a fisherman for 60 years. Used to get crabs 20 

 years ago. Now it is difficult to see one in a month. Outside, the bottom of Decrease. 

 the sea is shelly and sandy. The trawlers have fished out the crabs. Trawlers Trawlers. 

 also fish up the spawn of haddock, crabs, and all other sea fish. The fisher- 

 men often used to catch crabs on their lines ; now they don't catch one. 

 They are much scarcer than they ever have been. 



W. Davidson. Has been a fisher all his life. 40 years ago, when a bov, he 

 used to catch many crabs and lobsters ; but does not catch one now for a hundred Decrease. 

 formerly. The trawlers have fished out all the crabs. The trawlers come from Trawlers. 

 Lossiemouth. The crabs caught by them are sent to the south from Lossie- 

 mouth. The trawlers catch them in July, which is their best time. They 

 should be forced to put back all crabs under 4 inches over the back. Used to Gauge. 

 catch crabs on hooks when fishing for haddock; but catches very few now. 



T. Jenkins [recalled). Cod fish are great enemies to lobsters. Hardly ever LOBSTERS, 

 opens a cod without finding young lobsters in the stomach; this is particularly — ■ 



in February and March. Has seen cod throwing up lobsters on the deck of a Enemzes - 

 vessel ; as many as five or six lobsters in one cod. These lobsters would be 

 three or four inches in length, or even smaller. Cod eat lobsters all the season. 

 In the spring, and in January, February, and March, there are many cod 

 about. 



Joseph Mackintosh. Endorses the evidence of previous witnesses. 

 There should be a close season in July and August, and all lobsters under 4 Close time. 

 inches in the barrel should be put back into the water. There are 29 trawlers Gauge. 

 at Lossiemouth. The fishery is 7 miles long by 2| miles wide. They be°-in 

 fishing in September and fish till February. Trawlers destroy the haddock 

 and the young crabs. The crab fishing ground is 6 miles from Lossie Bight to 

 Burghead. Few crabs are got at Buckie. The Banff coast to Fraserburgh is a 

 good crab coast. The extent of the ground is about 18 miles. 



John Reid. Has been station officer of the Coastguard for the last 11 CRABS. 



years. There is no crab or lobster fishing going on now. Thinks small crabs 



should be put back into the water. Thinks the crabs are nearer to the rocks 

 than the trawlers dare come. If there is a new law regulating the crab and 

 lobster fisheries it should be confided to the Herring Fishery officers. 



William Main. Has been 20 years a fisherman. When he was a boy Decrease. 

 there were many partans about ; now there are few. The cause is the traw- 

 liDg. The trawls turn up the ground where the spawn is and destrov it, Trawlers. 

 the spawn being buried in the sand. Crabs are also caught by the trawlers' 

 Crabs spawn on this ground where the trawlers come. Gets crabs 10 or 12 -' 



