Big Game at Sea 



the other, and lifted it from the ground. It was 

 light, and came easily; but imagine my feelings when 

 the spider-like creature deliberately threw its claws 

 about me, and fairly squeezed me in its embrace ! 



" It was not much of a squeeze," said the relator, 

 laughing, " but the idea was so uncanny that I tore 

 the crab away, unfortunately breaking one of the 

 small claws in the struggle. I then threw it down, 

 pressing my knee on its body, and endeavored to tie 

 the big claws; but before I could accomplish it, the 

 small but ivory-like nipper had caught me in the fleshy 

 part of the arm and given me a bite that has left a 

 mark ever since."* 



" Speaking of crabs," said an English angler who 

 was familiar with almost every portion of the globe, 

 " I think the most singular experience it was ever my 

 good fortune to have was on the west coast of Africa. 

 We had traveled in the interior with a government 

 expedition, partly for protection through a bad coun- 

 try and partly for the companionship of some very 

 intelligent men who knew the region well, and who 

 were going down to the coast to meet a sailing vessel 

 which was to take them to another district. 



* This was a most interesting yarn, but the author would advise its details to be 

 well salted before taken. The giant crab of Japan is a fact and specimens as large 

 as described have doubtless been caught, and large specimens may be seen in some of 

 the American museums ; but still not professing to know anything about the 

 method of capture, the author would venture the statement that a crab of this kind 

 was never seen wandering over land. Its appearance suggests a life at moderate 

 depths, and there, or possibly in deep water, it is captured by becoming entangled in 

 nets or traps; but if any trained observer has been squeezed by the big crab on dry 

 land by the light of the Japanese moon, the author's apologies are ready. 



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