78 RAMBLES OF 



for as soon as he is alarmed, he pushes directly down- 

 wards, and is received in the bag of the net. It is better 

 to have a little water in the bottom of the boat to throw 

 them into, as they are easier emptied out of the net, al- 

 ways letting go when held over the water. This a good 

 crabber never forgets, and should he unluckily be seized 

 by a large crab, he holds him over the water and is freed 

 at once, though he loses his game. When not held over 

 the water, they bite sometimes with dreadful obstinacy, 

 and I have seen it necessary to crush the forceps or 

 claws before one could be induced to let go the fingers of 

 a boy. A poor black fellow also placed himself in an 

 awkward situation ; the crab seized him by a finger of 

 his right hand, but he was unwilling to lose his captive 

 by holding him over the water, instead of which he at- 

 tempted to secure the other claw with his left hand, while 

 he tried to crush the biting claw between his teeth. In 

 doing this, he somehow relaxed his left hand, and with 

 the other claw, the crab seized poor Jem by his under 

 lip, which was by no means a thin one, and forced him 

 to roar with pain. With some difficulty he was freed 

 from his tormentor* but it was several days before he 

 ceased to excite laughter, as the severe bite was followed 

 by a swelling of the lip, which imparted a most ludicrous 

 expression to a naturally comical countenance. 



