480 



EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



nine vessels, valued ut $2-1:, 000, were emplo3^ed, 55 of these being- 

 engaged in taking crabs and 1-4 in transporting them. The total num- 

 ber of boats used was 4,082, valued at $125,847. Including vessels, 

 boats, apparatus, shore propert}^, and cash capital, the investment in 

 the fishery was $32] ,1)74. The catch was 12,910,746 soft crabs, valued 

 at $202,563, and 29,474,379 hard crabs, valued at $85,884. The larg- 

 est catches of soft crabs were made with scrapes, the value of the 

 catch by this apparatus being nearly double that taken in scoop nets, 

 which is the next important apparatus. Practically the entire hard- 

 crab catch Avas obtained on trot lines, 1,138 of these lines, valued at 

 $4,474, being operated. A few hard crabs also were taken in scrapes 

 during the soft-crab season, and in dredges during the oyster season; 

 $10,464 worth of soft crabs was taken incidentally along with hard 

 crabs on trot lines as "doublers." 



The following is a summary of the crab fishciy of Maryland in 1901: 



Table sJioudng, by counties, the extent of the crab fishery of Maryland in 1901. 



a Exclusive of dxiplieation. 



6 These lines are used primarily for hard crabs, the soft or shedding crabs being taken with the 

 hard crabs as " doublers." 



