29 
diagram (Wj, and because of the figures I obtained at Beadnellf on 
November, 27th, 1902, and a determination made by Mr. Douglas 
in November, 1900, (‘M’ in Chart I.). Mr. Douglas wrote to me 
with reference to this latter counting : — ‘‘ The catch of crabs for 
that day was 390, out of which 300 were put back to the sea as they 
were unfit for market.” This is a proportion of 77 per cent. soft. 
The occurrence of the 5 points on the chart taken from Williamson’s 
analysis of the Dunbar statistics suggests that the casting season is 
earlier at Dunbar than at Sea Houses, but as a matter of fact the 
seasons vary in this respect. The whole S-shaped curve may be 
said to move forwards or backwards in successive years according as 
the season is warm or cold. But at the same time it is more than 
probable that the general casting season differs slightly with the 
locality. The maximum proportion of soft crabs is said as a rule to 
be about 80 per cent., and Williamson actually found that to be the 
case at Dunbar in September, 1899. I have suggested in the 
diagram that it may be assumed to usually about touch that figure. 
Berried crabs are not caught at all in accordance with the 
proportion they ought to bear to the un-berried females, and they 
are only caught from April to the end of the hatching season. 
During the six years there is only the record of three berried crabs 
being caught in March, 1 in 16 fathoms in 1902, and 2 in 26 fathoms 
in 1904 ; botlf at Sea Houses. The reason, so far as December and 
the early part of the year are concerned, is more than likely that 
they have just recently come into spawn, and there are few berried 
crabs at the end of the hatching season — September or at latest 
October. But above all we must remember that the great distension 
of the abdomen by the burden of eggs renders it very difficult for the 
female to enter the crab -pot. 
It ought to be plain from this analysis that the important element 
in the catches of crabs is the high percentage of soft crabs obtained, 
especially from October to December, and that if further protection 
is necessary it is through the soft crab that it must be made. 
Lobsters. — The soft lobster on the other hand is practically 
never seen in the crab pots, although at the end of the year the 
lobsters caught are sometimes not very ‘heavy,’ whereas the berried 
lobster bulks largely in the catches — up to 20 per cent, during the 
months when the lobster is usually caught. Not migrating with the 
crab, or at all events not nearly to the same extent, it enjoys more 
or less of a close time, for during certain months of the year, viz.: — 
t Meek. Report Northd. Sea Eisti. Com., 1902, p. 39. 
