CRABS, AND WHELKS 



Malay fishermen is its oil ; each adult contains a huge 

 lump of fat which yields a quart of pure oil. Whether 

 these crabs actually climb the trees after the nuts on 

 which they live is a disputed point which does not come 

 within our province to settle. 



Another remarkable crab and, from the fisherman's 

 point of view, the only useless one, is the glass crab of 

 the tropical seas ; this creature is transparent and, but 

 for its staring, blue-black eyes, would be invisible in the 

 water. 



All readers may not be aware that there are such things 

 as fresh-water crabs, quite distinct from the cray-fish. 

 They are to be found in the Indian rivers as well as in 

 many of those of South Europe; in the latter they are 

 caught with pots similar to lobster-traps ; the carapace or 

 upper shell is almost square, and the antennae are 

 curiously short. 



Here in England crabbing is scarcely a trade by itself, 

 but is rather pursued in slack or leisure time ; the Cornish 

 pilchard-fishers, for instance, fill in their intervals with 

 such work. The most commonly used tackle is an iron 

 hoop with two diametrical cords, crossing at right angles ; 

 dependent from the hoop is a net-bag which bellies out 

 till the circumference is nearly twice that of the hoop. 

 The fisherman baits the trap with fish generally ray 

 fastens a short bit of rope handle-wise across the frame, 

 and lowers the pot by a long cord that is tied to the 

 middle of the handle. When he feels the hoop touch the 

 bottom he raises it again about a foot, so as to give free 

 play to the net, and then makes his end fast to a buoy or 



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