236 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



Coast. The amount salted in these two states is decreasing 

 from year to year while the amount marketed in a fresh 

 condition is increasing. As the cod feeds on the bottom they 

 are taken with trawls and hand lines, though some are taken 

 in pound nets and gill nets. 



CRABS Crabs are found along all the coasts of the 

 United States. The different species vary much in size, habit 

 and use. The common edible crab has names applied by 

 catchers describing the different conditions of the shell. 

 While shedding they are known as "comer", "buster", 

 "peeler", and "shedder"; while growing a new shell, as 

 "soft-shell", "paper-shell", and "buckler". Crabs are used 

 for food, bait and fertilizer. King crabs are sold for the 

 latter purpose. All King crabs are taken from the Atlantic 

 Ocean, along the Middle Atlantic states, most of them from 

 New Jersey. The most common method of taking hard 

 crabs is with meat-baited lines, hand or set, and a dip net 

 in which the crab is caught when hauled to the surface. 

 Two-thirds of the soft-crab catch is taken with dredges. 

 King crabs were formerly all caught by hand, but the great 

 bulk are now taken in pound nets. 



FLOUNDERS The name flounder is variously applied to 

 the flat fishes found on all the coasts of the United States, 

 and known as "American sole", "Monterey halibut", "winter 

 flounder", "long-finned sole", "sand dab", etc. They vary in 

 size and shape and are sold for both food and bait. The 

 catch is taken in weirs, nets, beam trawls and seines, and 

 with hand lines and gaffs. 



HADDOCK The haddock is a food fish found in the 

 Atlantic Ocean, north of the Delaware Capes; it is called 

 "dickie" in some localities. The average weight is from 4 to 

 6 pounds. It is extensively used as a fresh food fish, and 

 is also salted, pickeled and dried. The haddock is taken 

 mostly with lines, but also with pound nets, trap nets and gill 

 nets. 



