70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



after which the new shell has become sufficiently hard to furnish the 

 usual protection, and the escort is discontinued. The average num- 

 ber of eggs is about 20,000. They are carried probably throughout 

 the winter attached to the swimmerettes on the under side of the 

 abdomen, or "tail," exactly as in the case of the lobster, until they 

 are hatched. 



Moulting or Shedding. — The moulting of both males and females 

 occurs during the entire season, even as late as November. Im- 

 mediately after the hard shell is shed, the crabs are extremely soft, and, 

 as described by one of the crab fishermen, seem "all to pieces." They 

 have indeed a "watery " appearance. On the under side of the body, 

 between the apparently disjointed limbs, are great spaces which some- 

 times extend into the body. These spaces not infrequently contain 

 air, which causes the crab to float. If the crabs are turned over, the 

 air bubbles come out, and when the crabs are righted again they 

 Ijehave normally. In a very short time, one or two hours, they 

 "grow together," and commence to harden. During this process 

 the linear dimensions of the crab are increased by about one-sixth, 

 and growth, as in the case of other crustaceans, takes place only 

 directly after moulting. 



The time and rapidity of moulting is dependent to a great extent 

 upon the temperature, and perhaps upon other conditions. For 

 example, if the crabs which in the late afternoon are just at the point 

 of moulting are put into a tub of water, they will not moult during 

 the night as they would otherwise, because the water becomes 

 cooled by the night air. The preparations for moulting and the 

 process itself progress more rapidly in warm weather. 



The young crabs, like the young lobsters, moult very frequently, 

 l)ut less often the older they become, until at maturity they moult 

 not oftener than once a )''ear. Unlike the lobster, however, the crab 

 may at length reach a period of life after which no further moult- 

 ing will occur, and the approach of this stage is in the female crab, at 

 least, indicated by unmistakable signs. Shortly before its last moult 

 the bent tail, or "apron," as it is called, becomes throughout streaked 



