418 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
addition. Practically all of the catch in the other crabbing localities 
of the state is sold to shippers at these two places. The principal 
grounds are Tangier Sound and tributary waters, Kedge Straits, and 
Holland Straits. Crab fishermen usually return from the fishing 
grounds daily to market their catch. In many cases, however, the 
distance prevents this and they are forced to live in shanties on the 
shores in the vicinity of the fishery, their catch being disposed of to 
buy-boats or crab-houses near by. As many as six men sometimes 
live throughout the season in a shanty which has cost about $25. 
Others live aboard their boats. 
Apparatus.—Soft crabs are taken with three forms of apparatus— 
scrapes, scoop nets, and small seines. A few also are taken inciden- 
tally on trot lines, together with hard crabs, as will be mentioned in 
connection with the latter fishery. The catch by seines is insignifi- 
cant compared with that by scrapes and scoep nets. 
The scrapes used for crabbing are similar to the oyster dredge, 
except that they are lighter, have no teeth on the front bar, and have 
a cotton instead of a chain bag. Scrape frames are usually sold by 
weight, the price being from 7 to 10 cents a pound and the weight 
from 25 to 35 pounds each. ‘The average price for a scrape, including 
bag and line, is about $3.50. Most of the scrape frames are made at 
Crisfield and Deal Island, while the netting comes from Boston and is 
made into bags by L. Cooper Dize, of Crisfield, who holds a patent on 
the bag in general use. The patent consists of a cord running along 
the back of the bag to keep it stretched. The width of a scrape varies 
from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches, though few of the latter size 
are used. 
The bags originally used were 3 feet deep, but deeper ones were 
found more effective in preventing the escape of the crabs, and 4 feet 
is now the usual depth. The same apparatus is occasionally used both 
in dredging for oysters and seraping for crabs: 
A scoop net, or dip net, as it is sometimes called, consists of a cir- 
cular bow of iron, with a cotton bag from 6 to 8 inches deep knit 
around it, and a handle about 5 feet long. 
The seines are from 40 to 50 feet long and are hauled by two men. 
Crabs taken in scoop nets and seines are less mutilated than those 
caught in scrapes, and consequently command better prices. 
Scrapes are used exclusively upon sailing vessels, and, like oyster 
dredges, are drawn over the bottom while the boat is moving under 
sail. The boats vary in size from the smallest used in dredging for 
oysters to 9 tons net tonnage, which was the largest size used during 
the season of 1901. From two to four scrapes are carried on each boat, 
four being exceptional, however, and only on the larger size vessels. 
Asa rule there are two light scrapes and one heavy one to a boat. 
With a good breeze a crew of two men can manipulate two light scrapes, 
