92 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



tip of the claws to end of tail, 3 ft. 2 in.; weight, 15 lbs. 2^oz. 

 Several small oysters, mussels, and barnacles were adhering 

 to the shell, and it was supposed to be 100 years old, although 

 what grounds there were for the assumption were not stated. 



Crabs and lobsters are supplied to the London market 

 from the east, south, and west coasts of England, from 

 Cornwall and the Channel Islands. The crayfish nearly 

 all come from Sennen Cove, near the Land's End, and the 

 greater part of these are sent to France. The crabs received 

 from Dunbar are very small, som.e of them not more than 

 three inches across ; they are called in the market " Dunbar 

 bugs." Very small crabs are also received from Scar- 

 borough ; one dealer in the season receives about 20 barrels 

 per day, each barrel containing 200. After paying ex- 

 penses and carriage, it is calculated that the fishermen can 

 only realize 4^". for 200 crabs, and 20s. for 100 lobsters. 

 Crabs are much wanted for the seaside markets in August 

 and September. 



Lobsters are sold in Billingsgate by curious ancient 

 terms, viz., a "worst Nancy," which equals 40 small lobsters ; 

 a " best Nancy," which is 40 lobsters of a larger size. 

 According to sizes above this, lobsters are sold by a " best 

 Double," a Score, and a Ten. 



The supply of crabs to London has diminished more 

 than half, both in size and number. Many crabs come 

 from the West of England, Cornwall, and Devon. The price 

 has gone up fully 30 per cent. ; a crab eight or ten years 

 ago worth 2s. is now worth 3^-. 6d. The sale for crabs 

 begins to fall off in October, and does not begin again till 

 March. The chief time for the sale of crabs and lobsters 

 is May, June, July, and August. In winter the crabs are 

 watery. Crabs and lobsters are in best condition in warm 

 weather. 



