460 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
diminishing the supply, we cannot but express our surprise that 
this practice is permitted to continue. 
The method in which crabs are caught is probably well 
known. The crab-pot—called in some localities “creel” —is a 
wicker basket-like trap, the entrance of which is usually at the 
top, and egress is rendered impossible by the ends of the willow- 
stems being turned inwards and cut off just below the opening, 
on the principle of an eel-trap. These pots are sunk in « rocky 
locality, in about twelve feet, mean depth, of water, by means of 
stones tied to the bottom, and are baited with pieces of fish, 
frequently dog-fish. There is a prevalent idea that crabs are 
attracted by decomposed bait; but, although this is true as 
regards lobsters, prawns, &c., it is not so as regards crabs, for we 
have frequently seen fishermen rebait their pots, even when the 
piece of fish used as bait was but slightly tainted, for they said it 
was no use at all unless quite fresh. 
As we have already pointed out, this crab is very widely 
distributed in the British seas, and it is a remarkable fact 
that on the western coast of England they grow to a much larger 
size than those on the eastern coasts; whereas at Galway, on the 
west coast of Ireland, it is said that they not only do not attain 
such dimensions, but are also-inferior as an article of food to 
those taken on the east coast of Ireland. 
The chief crab fisheries on our English shores are in the 
counties of Northumberland, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Sussex, Hamp- 
shire, Dorsetshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall. In Scotland the 
principal stations for this industry are on the east coast, and on 
part of the north coast between Duncansby Head and Loch 
Erribol, although some are occasionally fished on the west coast. 
Crabs are not generally articles of consumption in Scotland as 
in England; whilst in Ireland, owing partly to disfavour, but 
principally to difficulties in transit, they are still less eaten. 
The mode of sale of this crustacean seems to vary con- 
siderably in different localities; for instance, in Billingsgate they 
are generally sold by the barrel or kit, whilst in Bognor, we 
understand, they are sold by weight; in other places, however, 
they are most frequently sold by the dozen. In some parts of 
Cornwall a dozen consists of twenty-six crabs, over the gauge, or 
fifty-two crabs if under the gauge. This gauge is five inches 
across the widest part of the carapace, taken from side to side, 
