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Crabs and Lobsters. — Some contradictory statements were 
made, especially as to the destruction of soft crabs in the autumn 
fishing ; but the general opinion was that very few hard were got 
among a large majority of soft. Seasonal variation in this respect 
evidently takes place. For instance, two years ago three-quarters 
of the crabs were soft ; this year there are many more hard. But, 
with regard to the success of the fishing as a whole, the following 
statements were made : — 
With 150 pots to-day 20 score was about the average catch ; 
with 11 pots 45 years ago the feme number could be obtained. A 
fisherman fishing at Newton, it was said, 30 or 40 years ago, once < 
got so many crabs that lie onl}' retained the “ claws ” throwing 
away the bodies. One day at that time a merchant paid three men 
£27 at 2/0 a score for their catch. Thus each man caught say 72 
score. Of course this is exceptional, but it shows that the waters 
near the coast were richer in crabs and lobsters than they are now. 
The ground is limited for this kind of fishing, and if a larger 
number of pots are used, as is the case now-a-days, and the time of 
fishing be extended to include the whole year we should naturally 
expect this over-fishing would have its effect. Not only are more 
pots used per man, but they are closer together. For both reasons 
the catch per pot has considerably decreased. The crabbing has 
been more and more developed every year, especially during the last 
30 years. So much so has this been the case at Beadnel, say the 
fishermen of Craster, that they have cleaned their own ground and 
they now fish part of the year off Sea Houses at another part near 
Craster. The lobster fishing has likewise suffered. Twenty years 
ago, with 30 pots, 50 lobsters could be obtained ; to-day, with 80 
pots, 10 to 15 lobsters are got. Tbe fishermen were of opinion 
that instead of a close time for the berried hen during a few months 
of the year, it should be extended to include the whole year. They 
mentioned, moreover, that this was not only the view of Craster 
but most other places on the coast. 
Bait is mostly obtained from Budle Bay. 
Marketing Facilities. — For the crab pots 2 cwts. from Shields 
costs 2/8, from Aberdeen <S/4. As in other places, the fishermen 
must make Gd. a stone on the average before they obtain anything 
themselves, that is in sending to the Midland markets. The fisher- 
men complain, moreover, that they are at the mercy of the fish 
salesmen, who send them what they like. The fishermen have good 
