418 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



addition. Practically all of the catch in the other crab1)ing- localities 

 of the state is sold to shippers at these two places. The principal 

 grounds are Tangier Sound and tributarj^ waters, Kedge Straits, and 

 Holland Straits. Crab fishermen usually return from the fishing 

 grounds daily to market their catch. In many cases, however, the 

 distance prevents this and they are forced to live in shanties on the 

 shores in the vicinity of the fishery, their catch being disposed of to 

 buy-boats or crab-houses near by. As many as six men sometimes 

 live throughout the season in a shanty which has cost about $25. 

 Others live aboard their boats. 



Apparatus. — Soft crabs are taken with <^hree forms of apparatus — 

 scrapes, scoop nets, and small seines. A few also are taken inciden- 

 talh^ on trot lines, together with hard crabs, as will be mentioned in 

 connection with the latter fishery. The catch by seines is insignifi- 

 cant compared with that by scrapes and scoop nets. 



The scrapes used for crabbing are similar to the oyster dredge, 

 except that they are lighter, have no teeth on the front bar, and have 

 a cotton instead of a chain bag. Scrape frames are usually sold by 

 weight, the price being from 7 to 10 cents a pound and the weight 

 from 25 to 35 pounds each. The average price for a scrape, including 

 bag and line, is about ^53.50. Most of the scrape frames are made at 

 Crisfield and Deal Island, while the netting comes from Boston and is 

 made into bags bv L. Cooper Dize, of Crisfield, who holds a patent on 

 the bag in general use. The patent consists of a cord running along 

 the back of the bag to keep it stretched. The width of a scrape varies 

 from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches, though few of the latter size 

 are used. 



The bags originally used were 3 feet deep, but deeper ones were 

 found more effective in preventing the escape of the crabs, and 4 feet 

 is now the usual depth. The same apparatus is occasionally used both 

 in dredging for oysters and scraping for crabs. 



A scoop net, or dip net, as it is sometimes called, consists of a cir- 

 cular bow of iron, with a cotton bag from to 8 inches deep knit 

 around it, and a handle about 5 feet long. 



The seines are from 40 to 50 feet long and are hauled by two men. 

 Crabs taken in scoop nets and seines are less mutilated than those 

 caught in scrapes, and consequently command better prices. 



Scrapes are used exclusively upon sailing vessels, and, like oyster 

 dredges, are drawn over the bottom while the boat is moAnng under 

 sail. The boats vary in size from the smallest used in dredging for 

 oysters to 9 tons net tonnage, which was the largest size used during 

 the season of 1901^ From two to four scrapes are carried on. each boat, 

 four being exceptional, however, and onl}^ on the larger size vessels. 

 As a rule there are two light scrapes and one heavy one to a boat. 

 With a good breeze a crew of two men can manipulate two light scrapes. 



