CRUSTACEA IN RELATION TO MAN 249 



importance , on many parts of the British coasts. 

 On the other hand, a Connemara fisherman, who 

 was using these Crabs for bait, received with incre- 

 duHty the statement that they were good for human 

 food! 



The Shore Crab, Carcinus mcenas (Plate IX.), is 

 not of much importance as food in this country, 

 although it is recorded that fifty years ago great 

 numbers were brought to the London market. On 

 the shores of the Mediterranean and Adriatic, how- 

 ever, and especially in Venice, this species is re- 

 garded as a delicacy, particularly in the soft-shelled 

 state after moulting. 



On the Atlantic coast of North America, the 

 most important edible Crustacean after the Lobster 

 is the " Blue Crab " (Callinectes sapidus), one of the 

 Swimming Crabs (Portunidse). This is consumed 

 in large quantities, especially in the soft-shelled state. 

 Several other species of Crabs are eaten in America, 

 including the Httle *' Oyster Crab," a species ot 

 Pinnotheres living in the American Oyster. From 

 its small size, and the difficulty of obtaining it in 

 numbers, it is a very costly delicacy. 



In the East Indies the most important edible 

 Crabs are various species of Portunidse, especially 

 the large Scylla serrata and Neptunus pelagiciis. 



Except as food, the Crustacea are of very little 

 direct use to man. Almost the only instance in 

 which they are otherwise utilized is in the case of 



