THE CRAB INDUSTRY OF MARYLAND. 493 
each, an average during the season being about 12 cents. In buying, 
the dealer often counts three small crabs as two large ones, or two 
small as one large one, according to the size. 
Supply.—Vhere has been no very material change in the catch of 
crabs throughout the region, except a slight increase due to the greater 
number of crabbers each year. In 1901 at Crisfield and vicinity the 
catch was light, while at Deal Island, Holland Island, and neighboring 
localities this was the most profitable season known. In 1902 the 
catch of crabs was small throughout the state. The fishermen attrib- 
uted this to the severe winter of 1901-2. It is claimed by the resi- 
dents cf Deal Island that up to about 1882, when crabbing for market 
was begun there, it would take a fisherman a day to catch enough crabs 
for use as bait for line-fishing the next day. 
There are no legal restrictions imposed upon crabbing in Maryland 
either as to the size of the crabs, or the season in which they can be 
taken. Dorchester is the only county in which a license is required, 
a fee of $2.50 being charged for the privilege of scraping. No license 
is necessary for scoop-netting. 
Many fishermen are of the opinion that scraping for crabs over 
oyster grounds is of material benefit to the latter, as mud would settle 
on the oysters and would smother them unless removed by the scrapes; 
also, spat would be prevented from settling on the shells. The crab- 
ber regards scraping as a method of cultivating oyster grounds. 
The early history of the crab industry of Crisfield may not be 
uninteresting as given in the words of Capt. John H. Landon, the 
first and oldest living crab shipper of this town. 
When I first began crabbing in Crisfield I could catch over ten dozen crabs in a 
day with a scoop net. We did not know what to do with them. There were only 
two firms that handled them at that time, one in New York and one in Philadelphia. 
It was in 1873 or 1874 that the first shipments of crabs were made from Crisfield. 
These were consigned to the firm of John Martin, in Philadelphia, and were shipped 
on commission. Sometimes they would bring 60 cents a dozen, and at other times 
$1. The price now is kept down by the great competition among the crab buyers, 
who make such low rates in their contracts with firms in the cities. There was no 
trouble at first in selling our crabs, as the men to whom we shipped were pretty well 
posted, but we had considerable trouble in extending the trade, as many people 
thought the crabs were poisonous and had a very poor opinion of the crabbers as a 
set. Soft crabs were eaten in Crisfield sometime before there was any thought of 
shipping them to the cities. A few were at first sold to express agents and railroad 
employees. These men would take them to friends or sell them to game dealers in 
Philadelphia, which may account for the fact that Mr. Martin, to whom the first 
shipments were made, was familiar with their edible quality. 
The boxes in which the crabs were first shipped were very heavy, which made the 
express charges high. That was one of the mistakes that the shippers made. We 
had considerable trouble in getting the crabs to market, as we did not use ice in those 
days, at least for the first two years. The result was that we would lose about one- 
half of the crabs before they reached the market. Mr. Martin was the first to sug- 
gest the use of ice. We fitted up a very nice box in which to ship them in ice, but 
it proved to be too expensive. It had trays, as at present, but was much heavier. 
