47 
the diminishing of the catches is a natural and unavoidable circum- 
stance, but it is also quite conceivable that overfishing would 
intensify it. 
With the information at our disposal, it is possible to arrive at 
an estimate of the crab pots in use. For instance, at Beadnell in 
April, the catch for the month is about 50,000 crabs, and if the 
catch per 100 pots per day at that period be said to be 100 crabs, 
and the number of days be 25, that would give 2,000 pots, which is 
actually just about the number. 
In the case of lobsters, the figures and the chart show that in 
spite of the increase in the number of pots, the catches remain 
practically the same as in the results per 100 pots per day. This 
is certainly not the case with regard to crabs, and it leads to the 
reflexion that the fishermen are stating the truth when they say 
that at all events the catches of lobsters have considerably 
diminished since the modern intensification of the industry took 
place. 
2. — Nokthumbe BLAND. — The Government statistics for the 
district of Northumberland are shown in Table XVII., and the 
averages for the six years are exhibited in graphic form in Charts 
Y. and VI. The charts also include the figures for Sea Houses 
and Beadnell already referred to. It will be seen that the results 
are presented for the two divisions of the County adopted in the 
regulation of the district by the Committee. In Chart V. the 
numbers of the crabs along the left side refer to thousands, thus 
20,000, 30,000 and so on. The catches for the Northern District 
are shown in both charts by a continuous, and for the Southern 
Division by an interrupted line. 
The average values, according to the Government returns, are : — 
Crabs. 
Northern District ... ... £8,876 
Southern „ £2,700 
Total 
Lobsters. 
Northern District 
Southern „ 
£11,576 
£966 
£653 
Total £1,619 
Thus the value of the Crab and Lobster Fisheries, as estimated 
at the ports of landing, is about £13,200. 
