THE CRAB FISHERIES. 



657 



the phosphates of the Peruvian guano amount to 20.42, or are equivalent to that percentage of 

 ammonia; the ammonia and one-fourth of the phosphoric acid in the cancerine are in the same 

 way equivalent to 11.43 per cent, of ammonia ; and the values of the two will be as the numbers 20.42 

 and 11.43 ; or when guano is worth $60 per ton, as it is now, the cancerine is worth $33.58. * * * 

 "The amount of the material (canceriue) which can be produced annually is not yet known. 

 There is so little knowledge of the habits of the king crab that no judgment can be formed as to 

 the efl'eot that will be produced on a coming year's supply by the destruction of great numbers of 

 those which come to the shore to lay their eggs. If the number is not materially diminished, the 

 manufacture could be extended so as to produce many thousands of tons every year." 



Table shotting the extent and value of the horseshoe crab fishery of New Jersey and Delaware for 1880. 



(b.) THE CRAB FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



9. CRAB FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC STATES AND TERRITORIES, CALIFORNIA 



TO ALASKA. 



CALIFORNIA TO WASHINGTON TERRITORY. There are six species of crabs living upon the 

 Pacific coast of the United States south of British Columbia which are regarded as edible. They 

 are as follows: The common crab (Cancer magisler); the red crab ( Cancer productus) ; the rock crab 

 (Cancer antennarius) ; the kelp crab (Epialtus productus) ; the yellow shore crab (Heterograpsus ore- 

 gonensis), and the purple shore crab (Heterograpsus nudus). Of these, however, only the common 

 crab (Cancer mag-inter) is extensively taken as food for the San Francisco markets. Both the red 

 crab and the rock crab are said to be nearly, if not quite, as palatable as the common crab, but the 

 fishery for them has been neglected, mainly for the reason that the latter species is the most 

 abundant, averages much larger in size, and inhabits those localities and depths which are most 

 resorted to by the fishermen. The yellow and purple shore crabs are much smaller than the other 

 four species, and are eaten only by the Chinese. The kelp crab is eaten by the Indians, and prob- 

 ably also by the white inhabitants of the regions where it abounds. 



Although the Cancer magister ranges from Sitka, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay, Lower California, 

 San Francisco appears to be the only place where it is regularly marketed, the supplies coming 

 mainly from the sandy beaches of the San Francisco side of the bay of the same name, and espe- 

 cially to the south of the Golden Gate, between the city and the sea. These crabs are caught 

 in immense numbers, together with the red crab, the rock crab, and many shallow-water species 

 of fish, in seines, and in crab-nets, baited with fish and offal. The red crabs and rock crabs so 

 taken are not sent to market, but are thrown back into the sea or left on the shore to die. These 

 two species, however, live mainly upon the more rocky shores of the northern side of the Golden 

 Gate, where but little fishing is done, and the indifference shown regarding them is largely attrib- 

 utable to this fact. Notwithstanding the great numbers of the common crab which are constantly 

 being taken, and the reckless manner in which the catch is wasted by most crab-catchers, the 

 .supply has not yet perceptibly diminished. Much fewer crabs are brought to market in winter 

 han in summer. Three or four good sized crabs sell in the markets at retail for 25 cents. There 

 SEC. v, VOL. ii 42 



