REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 59 



Island also has a crab industry, but it does not assume the propor- 

 tions of the Maryland industry. (Crab Fisheries of Long Island, by 

 F. C. Paulmier, 56th Annual Report of the N. Y. State Museum.) 



In Rhode Island the crab fisheries are practically confined to 

 Narrow river, near Narragansett Pier. The season is through the 

 months of July and August. Almost the entire catch is consumed 

 by the hotels at Newport and Narragansett Pier. One of the oldest 

 dealers in Providence says that one thousand dollars would probably 

 cover the value of the industry to the fishermen. The entire catch 

 along the coast is worth more than $320,000 (Mayer). The value of 

 the importations for Rhode Island is approximately $1,500. Local 

 dealers state that the crabs of this vicinity are superior in quality 

 to the Maryland crabs. There is no apparent reason why the in- 

 dustry could not be carried on successfully on a larger basis in this 

 State. 



The most important crab from a economic standpoint is C a 1 - 

 linectes sapidus, the "blue crab, " or " paddler." This 

 species has always been first, both on account of its abundance and 

 the fine quality of its meat. Other forms almost equally good are 

 Cancer irroratus, "rock crab," and Cancer borealis, 

 "Jonah crab," a related species of which is the common edible crab 

 of the Pacific coast; Carcinides maenas, "gi-een crab," 

 which is very common on the European coast; Ovalipes occel- 

 1 a t u s , "lady crab," and Pinnotheres ostreum, "oyster 

 crab," which are used in small quantities. The other crabs, which 

 at present are not regarded as edible, are to be considered as of much 

 economic importance, as they furnish a large part of the food of cer- 

 tain fishes. 



BRACHYURA. (True Crabs). 



This sub-order of the decapod Crustacea includes the true crabs. 

 They have in general the following characteristics: body depressed, 

 abdomen rudimentary and folded in a groove under the cephalo- 



