108 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
crabbers who were questioned. Various adult females, as well as large males, which 
were kept under observation lacked cettain appendages at the initiation of the experi- 
ments. During periods of from one to three months, throughout which the experiments 
were continued, the appendages were not renewed, no signs of limb buds formed, nor 
did any moltings occur. Quite large males, 6 or more inches in length, have sometimes 
been observed to bear limb buds. As males, however, are found which are at least 8 
inches in width, it could not be said that the individuals with the newly forming 
appendages had yet reached the adult stage. Large males with discolored shells, 
barnacles, and similar apparent evidences of age, have not been observed to have 
appendages in the process of formation. It can not yet be stated definitely whether 
the adult crab has the power of regenerating appendages removed voluntarily or 
involuntarily. 
MIGRATION IN CHESAPEAKE BAY. 
The migrations of the crabs found in Chesapeake Bay are of sufficient interest to 
merit special discussion. Nearly all the sponge-bearing crabs are found in the southern 
part of the Bay, in fact, far enough south so that very few occur in Maryland waters. 
The chief spawning grounds are in the waters of the lower part of the Bay. 
Records kept by a leading crabbing firm of Hampton, Va., for the summers of 1906- 
1913, inclusive, show that the average number of male crabs was 11.8 per cent of the 
catch handled by this firm during those seasons. During the summer of 1917 the 
author kept records of the percentages of male and female and sponge-bearing crabs 
found in certain lots taken at random from the catches brought in to the crab dealers 
at Hampton, Va. The results are summarized in the following table: 
TABLE F. 
Soo Sa 
: earing : : earing 
Date. Melee crabs in Date. Malem crabs in 
4 entire ca. | entire 
eatch.a catch.a 
Per cent.| Per cent. Per cent. | Per cent. 
PETE 2) fant oslo hin sagt <rmmpidde oping ieee ee es 13 ga Wbuaby poges sets. aia he opacsah Fog. te east Io 54 
J Ne Bro. Sacer S9Oc0eEOo 400008 soaneee 5 7) | MASUPTISE en OE ae wma deg Pare eae amie h ise con's cp 18 24 
Atl gate rer circ cteiee cainewian nis eciell cneserteere 37 AT ||| ALIRUISECSOS tras clnicreltiavamtstaia mpteiereistniate sie tciereneita 8 56 
EYEE). REESE. SRT, dba Rev Odeon otto 16 GST | WLBNISELEAS Soe, eee dite siccaeye ss teen mere 13 42 
Baty xO ieis eforsie eialal doin o(alsteele notes cist ene 19 20 || August 30... 0.220 detec bebitolid dest + abhten « 24 5-7 
| 
@ From the early part of June until about the 2oth, the sponge-bearing crabs comprised at least 75 per cent of the entire catch, 
The average percentage of males will be seen from this table to be 16, a somewhat 
larger proportion than that indicated by the records of the firm at Hampton, Va. 
From all that could be learned from observations made at various points along the Bay, 
it is safe to say that at least 80 per cent of the hard crabs caught in the lower part of the 
Bay are females, while in regions around Crisfield, Md., an equally large percentage 
are males. From these data it would be predicated that relatively few sponge-bearing 
crabs would be found in Maryland waters. Observation substantiated this assump- 
tion. The number of sponge-bearing crabs occurring in Maryland waters is relatively 
