480 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



nine vessels, valued tit $24,000, were emplo3'ed, 55 of these })eing 

 engag-ed in taking crabs and 14 in transporting them. The total num- 

 ber of boats used was 4,082, valued at ^125,847. Including vessels, 

 boats, apparatus, shore propert}^, and cash capital, the investment in 

 the fishery was $323 ,974. The catch was 12,910,746 soft crabs, valued 

 at $202,563, and 29,474,379 hard crabs, valued at $85,884. The larg- 

 est catches of soft crabs were made with scrapes, the value of the 

 catch b}" this apparatus being nearly double that taken in scoop nets, 

 Vv'hich is the next important apparatus. Practically the entire hard- 

 crab catch was obtained on trot lines, 1,138 of these lines, valued at 

 $4,474, being operated. A few hard crabs also were taken in scrapes 

 during the soft-crab season, and in dredges during the oyster season; 

 $10,464 worth of soft crabs was taken incidentall}" along with hard 

 crabs on trot lines as "doublers." 



The following is a summary of the crab fishery of Maryland in 1901: 



Table showing, by counties, the extent of the crab fishery of Maryland /» 1001. 



a Exclusive of duplication. 



6 These lines are used primarily for hard crabs, the soft or .shedding crabs being taken with the 

 hard crabs as " doublers." 



