MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 63 



Appendix B. 



NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF PORT ERIN. 

 By Mr. T. N. Cregeen. 



The Cod fishery proper begins in November and ends 

 in March. The number of lines in use at the present time 

 is about 22. The average length of each line is 750 

 fathoms, and hooks are attached, 2\ fathoms apart, along 

 the entire length. The lines are shot, tightly stretched 

 and weighted at both ends, from one to six miles from the 

 land, their position being indicated by skin floats attached 

 to. the weighted ends. They are sometimes left for a few 

 hours only — at other times all night. The bait used is 

 the whelk, Buccinum undatum, of which large numbers are 

 caught in " pots " specially set for them. 



The Lobster fishery begins in November, but about 

 40 pots and cages only are in use until January, when the 

 number is increased to about 100. The pots and cages are 

 baited with fresh fish, and are laid amongst the rocks 

 all along the coast. They are hauled on an average 

 every second day, and the average catch of lobsters per 

 score pots is 10. A few crabs also are caught in them. 

 The lobster fishery is carried on all through the summer 

 until September, but after May about 30 pots only are 

 in use. 



The Crab fishery begins in February, the number of 

 pots in use being about 140. These are baited with all kinds 

 of stale or salt fish, are set close to the rocks all along the 

 coast, and are hauled about three times per week. The 

 average catch of crabs per 25 pots is about six dozen. This 

 fishery is carried on until September, but as in the case of 

 the lobster fishery, the number of pots in use during the 

 summer months is much reduced. 



