47 



shells at every season of the year. Gets many berried hens. These some- LOBSTERS, 

 times are very valuable in the market. 15 fathoms is the deepest water Berried. 

 fished. Lobsters are larger in the deep water, but this depends on the season in deep water. 

 of the year. Believes that about 12,000 lobsters are exported from Bernera 

 annually. 



George Macaulay (examined by Mr. Walpole). A tenant and constable 

 of Creer, island of Bernera. Has been a fisherman for lobsters for 40 years. 

 There are about 20 boats, or more, fishing at Bernera. 40 years ago there 

 were fewer. 40 years ago used creels and now rings. His ground is towards 

 the Atlantic side of Bernera. The ground in some places reaches 6 miles out 

 seawards, and extends along the whole west coast of the Lews. 40 years ago 

 the fishing season commenced in April and ended in October. The lobsters 

 were then taken to London in smacks, and the smacks could not rely on good 

 weather after October. The fishing season now commences on the 1st August Season for. 

 and ends in the following June. The lobsters are not fished in June and July, 

 because the men cannot get enough to make it worth their while, and the buyers 

 won't buy because the lobsters won't stand the carriage. The smacks could 

 carry them in June and July because they had wells, and the lobsters could 

 be kept alive in the wells. On an average, catches more lobsters now than he 

 did 40 years ago. From the 1st August to the 20th October 1876 has caught 

 800 lobsters. Some boats have caught 1,000. 40 years ago could have taken 

 from 700 to 1,000 lobsters a season. Has this year had 9d. for each full fish. 

 40 years ago the price was from 3d. to 6d. The first English company gave 4^d., 

 the last English company gave 7d. each for lobsters. The first English company 

 came more than 40 years ago, the last about 20 years ago. Is earning more 

 money in lobster fishing than he used to ; but spends more time at it. Fishes 

 in deeper water than he did 40 years ago. Seldom fishes now where he used 

 to then. His creels are safer in the deeper water. There are not so many 

 lobsters in the shallow water as there were 40 years ago. Thinks the lobsters 

 are about the same size as they were 40 years ago. Out of 9,100 lobsters, on 

 an average about one third are under 4| inches in the barrel. It would not 

 pay to follow the lobsters if all under that gauge would be returned. Would Gauge. 

 be willing to return all lobsters under 8 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail. 

 15 to 20 per cent, of them would be under this size. 



Never fishes in June or July now. These months are practically a close Close time. 

 season. The coast is very stormy, and the fishermen would be stopped eight 

 to nine days a month throughout the year. Sells his lobsters to Mr. Morrison. 

 Mr. Morrison puts them in his stock ponds. 



Thinks that the lobsters are going out to the deep water more than they used, In deep water. 

 and that this is the case with all fish. When he began to fish for ling and cod he 

 fished them three times nearer the shore than he does now. Has to go now 

 about 20 miles to make the best fishing. There are no herrings on the west 

 coast now ; but they used to come there. 



(By Mr. Young.) There are many crabs about Bernera, but they are too far CRABS, 

 from the market to be kept alive. Crabs are not used for bait ; mussels are. Win n ~^~ carYV 



Murdo Morrison (recalled, examined by Mr. Walpole). His store-pond is 

 about a mile in circumference. It averages about 4 or 5 fathoms deep ; 

 doesn't ebb dry; fresh salt-water comes in from the sea with' each tide through Ponds. 

 the porous wall which he has built. Gets his store lobsters out of the pond 

 with iron rings and creels. There are about 6,000 lobsters in it. There are 

 fish in it, cod and ling, and other fish, and he also throws fish into it. 

 Throws in about a hundredweight of fish a week. Sees dead lobsters in the 

 pond, but doesn't think they are starved. Thinks that with the natural food 

 and the supply he gives them they have food enough. 



Puts berried lobsters in the pond ; believes they breed in the pond. The Spawning. 

 smallest lobster he ever put into the pond was about 6 inches, and has never 

 seen any smaller in it. Pays rent for the pond to Sir James Matheson, as 

 owning the foreshores. 



^ Mr. Macaulay and witness were deputed by the other Bernera fishermen to 

 give evidence on the subject. 



40353. M 



