A NATURALIST. 79 



as above mentioned, there is no danger of their being 

 the least injured. 



At otner 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 trying to make off 

 with it. You then place your net where it can con- 

 veniently be picked up, and commence steadily but 

 gently to draw in 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 perpendicularly until it 

 is five or six inches lower than the crab, and then 

 with a sudden turn 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 ; 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 



