SOME FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 459 



To Mr. Bobert Beazor, senr., fish-merchant, who spends 

 most of his time on the fish-wharf, I am again indebted for 

 some interesting notes. He writes : — 



" Crabs and Lobsters : These begin to make their appear- 

 ance on the wharf immediately after Christmas, and in barrels, 

 forwarded by rail from Scotland; these contain from six to 

 eight score. The supply this year was scarcer, frequent and 

 continuous winds not admitting of the catchers going after 

 them. The same causes often prevented the Cromer, Kunton, 

 and Sheringham catchers from going to overhaul or work their 

 ' pots ' ; the take of Norfolk Lobsters was in consequence a short 

 one. During July and beginning of August these ' fish ' go into 

 the sand to re- shell, the Crabs somewhat earlier, when supplies 

 are very short. This year has been notable for the rather large 

 numbers of fine Lobsters landed by the trawling smacks fishing 

 in the neighbourhood of Cromer ' wold,' many running from 

 3 lb. to 7 lb, 



" Smelts : Smelting commenced early in the year. The first 

 taken was in the third week in March, and continued up to the 

 end of September. It was a very poor season owing to the 

 prevalence of easterly winds and turbulent weather. The 

 greatest number I had in one day was between four and five 

 thousand. Big catches were the exception. Very few Sea- 

 Trout and Grey Mullet were captured in the smelt-nets, and 

 hardly any along the coast, owing to the same conditions. 



" Mackerel have been abundant on the coast all the year ; 

 our midsummer 'voyage' was a record one for the numbers of 

 fish landed. Sea-Trout in some years have come into my hands 

 from the mackerel-nets in scores, averaging from § lb. to 1^ lb. 

 each, but this year they were conspicuously absent, as were Bed 

 Mullet [Surmullet], only three of the latter having been taken to 

 my personal knowledge. 



" The midsummer Herring fishery was a complete failure, 

 and so I think it likely to be so long as the Fishery Board per- 

 mit spring Herring fishing. I consider there ought to be a 

 close-time on this coast from Christmas to June. 



" Our autumn fishing up to the present has been backward 

 owing to bad weather. Prices have been abnormally high. We 

 have about one thousand vessels fishing from this port, over 



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