British Crab Census

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 October 1914, Page 2

British Crab Census

No fewer than. 5,750,000 crabs were, according to the annual report on Sea Fisheries for 1912 just issued, recorded in the landings for England and Wales during last year while over 33,000,000 oysters, between 600,000 and 700,000 lobsters and some 26,000 tons of other , shellfish were taken. It is strange to be told that, although oyster culture has been practised from very early times, •many of the conditions upon which its partial failure or success depend are still unknown or insufficiently understood. In response to an invitation given recently by the Oyster" Merchants and Planters' Association, the Board of Agriculture Fisheries have decided to institute a comprehensive investigation into the conditions affecting the spatting, growth, and fattening of the oyster. The figures given relating to the importation of foreign fish are of interest. While the importation of French sardines into England has declined from 48,000cwt. in 1905 to 11,000cwt. in 1912, the impor-

tat ion of Norwegian sprats as sardines, which in 190r> was a negligible quantity, last year amounted to no less than IOO.OOOcwt.