REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND S I A I E OBOLOGIST 1902 1*133 



but only about one third as many crabs were taken, and the ship- 

 ments averaged only about 20 barrels a day. A free collection of 

 the barrels is maintained at this place. 



Brookhaven. In 1901, 1(1 men were catching hard crabs, and 

 the average was about 50 barrels a day. In 1902 only five were 

 doing it, and the shipments were only about 30 barrels to 

 Aug. 1. At the time the waiter visited the place, in the latter 

 part p£ August, the shipments had fallen to about five barrels a 

 day. A free collection also was in operation here. 



Eastport. Not visited in 1901, but in 1902 there were about 11 

 men engaged in catching crabs. The shipments were only about 

 20 barrels a day and there was no free collection. 



Speonk. Here, the only other place mentioned by the officials 

 of the express company as a place for shipping crabs, no one was 

 found regularly engaged, btit a few men caught crabs when they 

 had nothing else to do. Four or five barrels were occasionally 

 shipped. 



The shedding of crabs for the New York market is confined on 

 Long Island to Freeport. It is carried on to a certain extent 

 for local purposes at several other places, as at Great River, 

 where four men were engaged in it. These men did it only as a 

 side business, and their product amounted to only three or four 

 dozen a day each. 



At Center Moriches, one of the centers for the hard crab ship- 

 ping, one of the fishermen spends his entire time in shedding 

 crabs; and his method may be taken as a good example of those 

 in use. His being located in the center of the crab fishery is of 

 considerable advantage; for he does not have to go in search of 

 those about to shed, but purchases them from the hard crab men 

 for one cent apiece. These crabs are technically known as " com- 

 ers " and are recognized by the appearance of a membrane be- 

 tween the joints of the large claws, which then look as if scratched 

 by a pin. A " comer " may also be recognized by breaking off the 

 ends of one of the walking legs, when the new skin will be found 

 underneath, and still later by the appearance of the crack around 

 the edge of the carapace. At this stage they are known as 

 " crackers." 



