ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1175 



(iKIllM. RhAIA Id HI N 

 The body is balanced on the three middle pair 



combined products of these states for that 

 year reached the astonishing total of -iej^OSjOOO 

 pounds, worth to the fishermen the neat sum of 

 $670,000. Virginia lieaded tlie list with a pro- 

 duction of 25,083,000 pounds, while Maryland 

 was not far behind with 20,373,000 pounds; but 

 New York and New Jersey yielded only 602,- 

 000 and 3^5,000 pounds respectively. 



The number of crabs of this species marketed 

 is very difficult to estimate, as so man}' are sold 

 localh' to seaside hotels and restaurants as well 

 as to individuals. Tiiis condition obtains espe- 

 cially in the region about New York City, 

 wliere the great summer population of the sea- 

 side resorts consumes enormous numbers of 

 these crabs, no record of which is taken. 



The crabbing industry is thus one of the most 

 important fisheries of these states, being sur- 

 passed by only tiie following named in the order 

 of importance ; oysters, menhaden, sliad, hard 

 clams, bluefish and weakfish. 



The crab fisherman is one of tlie most famil- 

 iar sights all summer long on every bridge and 

 pier, and any one may indulge in the sport, if 

 one may stretch that term to cover crabbing, for 

 there are no sex or age limits. 



It requires no special ingenuity to capture 

 crabs, perhaps that is why so many people take 

 a hand at it. A piece of overripe meat for bait 

 and one of the many kinds of traps on the mar- 

 ket, and the insatiable appetite of the crab does 

 the rest. All one has to do is to throw the trap 

 in and haul it up occasionally and one fisherman 

 can run several traps at a time. As a sport, 

 this can scarcely be ranked with tima fishing or 

 angling for trout. Unless you are provided 



: of legs, 



with a pair of crab tongs, 

 however, there is a certain 

 amount of excitement in get- 

 ting your crab after you 

 have caught him, for pug- 

 nacity is one of his strong 

 points and his pincers are 

 weapons to be avoided. He 

 can be handled most safely 

 by one of his oar-like hind 

 legs, which are out of reacli 

 of the wide sweep of his 

 claws, and the thoroughlj' 

 initiated crabber may grasp 

 iiim by the back of his shell 

 with safety. 



The blue crab is not at all 

 particular as to his diet, and 

 any thing alive or dead in 

 the way of animal food is 

 acceptable. Fish form a large 

 portion and are often taken alive. The crab 

 hides in the mud at the bottom, burrowing rap- 

 idly by backing into the mud until only his eyes 

 and antennae are visible. If the unwary small 

 fish passes too close, the strong chelae make a 

 quick grab and the fish comes to an initimely 

 end. The dexterity with which the crab handles 

 tiiese awkward-looking weapons is remarkable. 

 The usual manner of catching crabs for com- 

 mercial purposes is by means of dredges, nearly 

 iialf of those marketed being taken in this man- 

 ner. They are also captured by means of pots, 

 traps of various sorts, as well as in gill nets, 

 pounds nets, seines and on lines. 



Crabs are marketed either as "soft shells" or 

 "hard shells." Many persons believe these to 

 be different kinds of crabs, but they are in 

 reality only different conditions of the same 

 species. When hard shells are taken which 

 show no signs of shedding or moulting tlie 

 shells, they are marketed in this condition. 

 Wiien the adult crab is about to moult, this is 

 made evident some days before the event takes 

 |)lace, by certain indications well known to the 

 fisiiermen. The first evidence that the moult 

 is about to occur is "a narrow white line which 

 api)ears just within the thin margin of the last 

 two joints of the posterior pair of legs. Within 

 three or four days the white line gives way to 

 an equally narrow and obscure red line and a 

 set of fine white wrinkles makes its appearance 

 on the blue skin between the wrist and the 

 ujjper arm. Such a crab is known as a "peeler" 

 and may confidently be expected to cast its sliell 

 within a few hours." (Prof. W. P. Hay, The 



