We intend to investigate the hypothesis that it is the local material properties around a defect that determines the variation in individual critical strengths of notched paper. Three paper grades (SC, newsprint, copy paper), 100mmx50mm samples, 20 samples of each grade, with an introduced edge cut were analyzed by a beta-formation apparatus (Fujifilm FORMEX/BAS-1800). Areas of different sizes and shapes at the crack-tip were then analyzed with respect to various basis weight statistics. Statistical parameters of the local basis weights like the mean, standard deviation and the minimum value were correlated to the strength of the individual paper samples. For copy paper, a highly significant correlation was found between strength and the local mean and minimum basis weight, but only for areas in a certain range (3mm < area < 10mm ). Correlations were found to a much lesser degree in the newsprint and SC grade. This method of studying paper strength might give novel information about small scale paper properties - not necessarily caught by the formation measure - that is important for fracture properties of paper. The method may also be developed to a tool for the paper maker to assess the severity of a detected defect.