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to see that the close time was strictly observed. One such officer would be LOBSTERS 



sufficient for the whole of the island of Mull. Would also combine with the 



close time a gauge for lobsters. There should be a 5-inch barrel gauge, and Gauge. 



lobsters of 4$ inches in the barrel should count two for one ; but all lobsters 



below 4£ inches should be returned to the water. The same officer who sees to 



the enforcement of the close time might also see that the gauge was adhered to 



during the open season. If a gauge were fixed for British lobsters, would 



admit no foreign lobsters into the home market under that gauge. There are 



only four shipping places for lobsters in Mull. These are Tobermory, Salen, 



Bunessan, and Croaig. Has heard of the artificial ponds at Bernera, Ponds. 



Tarbert in Harris, &c. Does not at all approve of them. They keep lobsters 



caught in the summer months until they can be sent to market. The lobsters 



in these ponds are forced, by starvation or insufficient food, to prey upon each 



other. They get watery, out of condition, and unfit for human food. Has 



no doubt that it is quite possible to clear out a lobster ground of limited 



extent so as to render it not worth fishing. Has known localities where this 



has taken place. Thinks a proof of this is that, in the end of the season, the 



fishermen will scarcely get a dozen lobsters in a week on spots where in the 



beginning of the season they would get a dozen in a day. Very fine lobsters 



are taken in the mouth of Loch Sunart off the Sound of Mull. Has a dozen 



just now in his shop weighing upwards of 60 pounds. The lobsters from the 



Island of Barra are even finer. Very few are taken there under four pounds. 



David Campbell, fish merchant, Salen. Has been acquainted with the 

 lobster fisheries of Mull, and the immediately adjacent lochs and islands, for 

 more than 30 years, since 1844. Lobsters have diminished, both in number Decrease. 

 and size, since he began business. The London prices were higher formerly 

 than at present ; but the prices in the Highlands are higher now than formerly. Price. 

 Has got as much as 3s. 6d. and 4s. a piece for lobsters in the months of February 

 and March. From 1847 to 1855 was the time when the prices were highest in 

 London. There are scarcely half as many boats fishing now as there once used Boats. 

 to be, but each boat carries more creels. Formerly each boat carried from 18 

 to 36 creels, whereas now each boat carries from 60 to 80. • If lobsters were 

 as plentiful as they once were, the improvement and increase in fishing gear 

 should produce more fish. Thinks that the principal cause of the decrease in 

 the number and average size of lobsters is fishing during the months of July 

 and August. Lobsters breed all the year round, but it is in these months that Spawning. 

 the spawn comes to maturity, and therefore there should be a close time in 

 July and August. Does not approve of the close time from 1st June to 1st Close time. 

 September, enacted by the old Act of George II. Remembers Lord Strathallan 

 giving him a copy of that Act ; but it was never observed or enforced here. 

 Would restrict the close time to July and August. Would not be satisfied 

 with enforcing the close time under a penalty in the public market. Prefers 

 enforcing it by an officer specially appointed. One such officer would be 

 sufficient for Mull and Iona. Lobster fishing is not readily concealed, so 

 the close time might be easily enforced by such an officer. Possibly the July 

 close time might be felt as a hardship by the fishermen on the western coasts of 

 the outer Hebrides, but the lobsters caught in these remote places in July 

 would not carry to the London market. The lobsters that count two for one, Gauge. 

 that is, the lobsters under 4^ inches in barrel, are often under 3 inches in the 

 barrel — in fact, of any size. This is a very destructive practice. Would prevent 

 it by enacting a gauge ; and would return all lobsters under 3^ inches in the 

 barrel. Would prefer 4 inches ; but thinks there might be a strong opposition 

 to this among the fishermen. Would enforce the gauge, like close time, by the 

 fishery officer. 12 fathoms water is the deepest they fish in here. Believes 

 they might get bigger lobsters if they occasionally fished in deeper water. 

 Does not approve of the artificial ponds. The lobsters in them are starved and Ponds. 

 prey on each other, and those that remain are in bad condition, unfit for 

 human food. Once tried a pond on a small scale himself, by decking over a 

 large skiff and keeping lobsters in it. Although he fed them, he found the 

 plan did not answer. The lobsters were unfit for the market. The coining in 

 of a large consignment of Norwegian lobsters to the London market at the 

 same time as a quantity of Scotch lobsters, an occurrence which not unfre- 

 quently takes place, causes a glut in the market, and lowers prices. Has occa- 

 sionally, owing to this cause, got as little as Is. 5d. a dozen for four boxes. 



