58 



Boats. 



CRABS. 



Decrease. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 



Sea son for. 



LOBSTERS. 

 Decrease. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 



doubled since he first remembers the fisheries. Has never seen rings used for 

 fishing, only creels. The shores in this neighbourhood are chiefly rocky. 

 There are not as many boats and men engaged in the fisheries as formerly. It 

 would not pay them, lobsters and crabs are getting so scarce. The best lobster 

 fisheries in Mull are on the south and west coasts. 



Dugald Mackenzie, fisherman, residing in Oban. Has been a fisherman 

 for about 30 years. When he began fishing, crabs were twice as plentiful as at 

 present. Thinks they have become comparatively scarce owing to the great 

 number taken in the lobster creels. The men never return any of the crabs taken, 

 but keep large and small. There are fewer boats and men now than formerly, 

 but each boat carries more creels. One boat sometimes carries 60 creels! 

 There should be a close time for crabs. They should only be fished during 

 the months of July, August, September, and October, and the rest of the year 

 should be observed as close time. There should be a gauge, and all crabs 

 under 5 inches should be returned to the water. The gauge and close time 

 should be enforced in the public markets under a penalty. Thinks that if a 

 gauge were enacted the lobster fishermen would put back the small crabs taken 

 in their creels. Crabs are dearer now than formerly. Has seen Is. a dozen only 

 paid for smallish crabs ; now Is. apiece is sometimes given in Oban for large 

 crabs. Crabs are now in about the best condition. The best places in this 

 neighbourhood for crabs and lobsters are Scarba, Jura, Eisdale, Kerrera, and 

 the south and west coasts of Mull. The south and west coasts of Mull can 

 only be fished to advantage in summer time, they are so exposed to the 

 Atlantic gales. Lobsters are not now half as plentiful as when he was first a 

 fisherman, and fewer boats and men are engaged in the lobster fisheries. 

 There is only one third of the number of boats, but each boat now carries 

 more creels than formerly. Only one smack now comes here for lobsters, 

 while long ago there used to be three or four. The falling off in the fisheries 

 accounts for this. Would have a close time for lobsters in June, July, and 

 August, to be enforced in the public market, combined with a gauge of 4 inches 

 in the barrel to be enforced in. the same way. 



Mish Nish Hotel, Tobermory, Mull, Wednesday, 1st November 



1876. 



Decrease. 

 Boats. 



Price. 



Close time. 



Spawning. 



Present : 

 Archibald Young, Esquire. 

 Archibald Maclean, general merchant, residing in Tobermory. Has 

 been acquainted for 20 years with the lobster fisheries in Mull, Raasay, Skye, 

 and the Lews. This year has been an exceptionally good year for the lobster 

 fisheries around Mull ; but, previously to this year, there had been a great 

 falling off, probably to the extent of a fourth. This decline commenced 

 about six years ago. The lobsters have decreased in average size. The two- 

 for-one lobsters form nearly half the whole take now. Over-fishing is the 

 chief cause of this decrease. Creels have been used ever since he knew the 

 fishings ; never remembers seeing rings used. Twice as many boats are engaged 

 in the fisheries as when he commenced business, and these boats carry three 

 times as many creels per boat as were formerly carried. It is therefore 

 abundantly evident that there are not as many lobsters in these seas as there 

 used to be, or else far more would be got from the increase in the number of 

 boats and creels. Once sold a dozen lobsters for 71. They were picked 

 lobsters, weighing from 7 to 10 pounds each. In his early days the prices of 

 lobsters in London and the English markets were higher than now ; but the 

 prices in the Highlands are higher now than formerly. Is in favour of a close 

 time for lobsters, from May to September inclusive. This would be for the 

 general good of the fisheries, though it might be hard upon the fishermen on 

 the Atlantic coast of the Long Island and similar stormy localities, where the 

 fishing is chiefly carried on in summer and autumn . Lobsters spawn all the 

 year round, but chiefly in the months of May, June, July, August, and 

 September. Does not think that the enforcement of a close time through the 

 markets would be sufficient. Would prefer to have an officer specially appointed 



