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mittee show that the soft crabs taken during these months are from 
80 to 85 % of the catch, and as it is well known that these can 
scarcely be handled without causing fatal injuries, and especially if 
the thumb test be used to distinguish them from the saleable ones, 
and as, moreover, the catch is often drafted out after the boats 
have been brought to land, it 1 would much benefit this class of 
fishery, and be no great hardship, to institute a close time, such as 
is given in the Committee’s Bye-Laws now under consideration. 
