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MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



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{Courtesy U. S. Fish and IVildlife Service) 

 Fig. 29-8. One type of trap used for dungeness crabs. 



These nets consist of 2 iron hoops connected by netting to form a basin-shaped 

 receptacle, which lies flat on the bottom when fishing and from which the crab 

 cannot crawl. Fifteen to 25 of these are baited and set on a long rope in line 

 with the run of the tide. About every hour the nets are hauled up and the catch 

 removed. The hoop nets are usually taken ashore at night. 



A pot or trap similar to the Maine lobster pot is used in sheltered bays and 

 sounds. Gray (1922) has described the traps used and the method of fishing 

 in Alaska. The traps are made of a framework of iron rods, covered on the sides 

 with wire netting; the ends are made in the form of funnels of linen or cotton 

 web, through which the crabs may enter. They are about 40 inches long, 30 inches 

 wide, and 20 inches deep, and are baited with salmon waste. In the summer they 

 are set in the water to a depth of 2 to 8 fathoms, in the winter as deep as 25 

 fathoms. The traps are lifted once or twice daily; crabs, measuring 7 inches or 

 more, are removed, and the females and undersized are released. Those retained 

 are kept in a live box until delivery at the cannery. Dungeness crabs will live out 

 of water about 12 hours; but, if they are kept in sea water, they will live much 

 longer, particularly if the weather is cool. Crabs of all species are extremely 

 cannibalistic and will eat each other when hungry; therefore, when retained for 

 any considerable period of time they should be fed on dead fish or other animal 

 matter. 



