358 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



sense analogous to that of smell than by sight. Thus 

 they detect a bait which is often placed in such situa- 

 tions that it cannot be seen by them at any distance, 

 and which generally consists of pieces of fish in which 

 decomposition has already commenced. 



The fishery for these Crabs constitutes an important 

 trade on many parts of the coast. The numbers 

 which are taken are immense ; and as the occupation 

 of procuring them is principally carried on by persons 

 who are past the more laborious and dangerous pur- 

 suit of general fishing, it affords a means of sub- 

 sistence to many a poor man, who, from age or in- 

 firmity, would be unable without it to keep himself 

 and his family from the workhouse. They are taken 

 in what are termed " Crab-pots/' a sort of wicker trap, 

 made by preference of the twigs of the Golden Willow 

 (Salix vitellina)j on account of its great durability 

 and toughness. These " pots" are constructed on the 

 principle of a common wire mouse-trap, but with the 

 entrance at the top. They are baited with pieces of 

 fish, generally of some otherwise useless kind, and 

 these are fixed into the pots by means of a skewer. 

 The pots are then sunk by stones attached to the 

 bottom, and the situation where they are dropped is 

 indicated, and the means of raising them provided 

 for, by a long line, having a piece of cork attached to 

 the free end, which, floating on the sea, indicates the 

 position of the trap. 



