56 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



We feel confident, however, that there is nothing 

 abnormal about these crabs and that they are merely 

 individuals which are approaching the time when in 

 every second year, a crab this size will cast its shell. Mr. 

 Pearson, in his forthcoming memoir on the Crab, will 

 discuss this question and show that this is the most 

 probable conclusion to arrive at. In this case these 

 crabs, if left alive in the sea, would probably cast their 

 shells in the course of a, few weeks, and would then 

 become, after passing through a period as " soft " crabs, 

 normal clean-looking, healthy individuals, suitable for 

 the market. The bitterness of the flesh of the " granny " 

 and its medicinal effect still require explanation, and 

 Dr. H. E. Hoaf is now investigating these matters as a 

 question of bio-chemistry ; but it may be pointed out 

 that the period of preparation for casting the shell is 

 probably one of active change in the metabolism of the 

 body, and may well give rise to changes in the secretions 

 sufficient to account for the observed facts. 



If, then, the " grannies ' are natural crabs passing 

 through a transitory phase in their life-history it is 

 evident that they should, when captured, be restored to 

 the sea uninjured, and that much damage may be done 

 to the local fisheries by the present practice of destroying 

 such crabs. Every " granny " returned alive to the sea 

 this year may be caught as a healthy crab a size larger 

 next year. 



Intensive Study of Port Erin Bay. 



This is no new subject, but I desire to attract renewed 

 attention to it in the hope of inducing the co-operation 

 amongst observers which is essential for its successful 

 pursuit. 



