A NATURALIST. 77 



only difficulty in the way is that of having persons to at- 

 tend to their procuring and transmission, as when cooked 

 directly after they arrive at market, and forwarded with 

 as little delay as above mentioned, there is no danger of 

 their being the least injured. 



At other seasons, when the crabs did not come close 

 to the shore, I derived much amusement by taking them 

 in the deep water. This is always easily effected by the 

 aid of proper bait ; a leg of chicken, piece of any raw 

 meat, or a salted or spoiled herring, tied to a twine string 

 of sufficient length, and a hand net of convenient size, 

 is all that is necessary. You throw out your line and 

 bait, or you fix as many lines to your boat as you please, 

 and in a short time you see, by the straightening of the 

 line, that the bait has been seized by a crab, who is try- 

 ing to make off with it. You then place your net where 

 it can conveniently be picked up, and commence steadily 

 but gently to draw hi your line, until you have brought 

 the crab sufficiently near the surface to distinguish him ; 

 if you draw him nearer, he will see you and immediately 

 let go, otherwise his greediness and voracity will make 

 him cling to his prey to the last. Holding the line in the 

 left hand, you now dip your net edge foremost into the 

 water at some distance from the line, carry it down per- 

 pendicularly until it is five or six niches lower than the 

 crab, and then with a sudden turn out bring it directly 

 before him, and lift up at the same time. Your prize is 

 generally secured, if your net be at all properly placed ; 

 7* 



