the bookstore 



Blue crabs are big business in 

 North Carolina. Whether you're 

 crabbing for supper or your bread and 

 butter, Sea Grant offers a host of 

 publications on catching, shedding, 

 selling, cooking and cleaning these 

 crustaceans. 



THE SECRET OF 

 SOFT-SHELL CRABBING 



The key to shedding the blue crab 

 is understanding its 

 biology. A Guide to Soft 

 Shell Crabbing explains 

 that and more. This 32- 

 page illustrated manual 

 offers instructions to 

 the layman on identify- 

 ing and handling 

 peelers, which are pre- 

 molt crabs. It describes 

 methods for harvesting 

 the critters, from crab 

 trawls to trotlines to 

 crab pots, and outlines the three basic 

 designs for shedding systems. The 

 guide also offers tips on marketing 

 and freezing these crustaceans. 



The cost is $3. Ask for UNC-SG- 

 84-01. 



CRAFTING A 

 CRAB TRAP 



Blue crabs are an easy catch for 

 coastal residents who have access to 

 sounds and inlets. In warm weather, a 

 crab pot can catch a dozen crabs in a 

 matter of hours. 



How to Build a Crab Pot de- 

 scribes a step-by-step procedure for 

 fashioning one of these traps. You can 

 find all of the supplies at most hard- 

 ware stores. 



This illustrated 14-page guide also 

 lists a few rules and regulations for 

 fishing with crab pots and the ad- 

 dresses you'll need to find out more. 

 The cost is $1.50. Ask for UNC-SG- 

 80-03. 



AN ALTERNATIVE 

 TO CRAB POTS 



In areas where peeler crabs move 

 in large runs or waves, crab pounds 

 can be very effective in catching these 

 pre-molt crustaceans. Building and 

 Using Crab Pounds to Catch Peelers 

 is an illustrated four-page Blueprint. It 

 details the construction and trial of one 

 crab pound design used by Sea Grant 

 staff and industry personnel during the 



spring and summer of 1990. It's free. 

 Just ask for UNC-SG-BP-91-01. 



SHEDDING CRABS IN 

 MUDDY WATERS 



Until recently, thousands of miles 

 of waterfront property were unusable 

 for soft crab production because of 

 poor, murky water. Turbid water clogs 

 the gills of peelers held in shedding 

 trays and causes high mortality. 



Installation of a swimming pool 

 filter in flow-through systems can 

 facilitate crab shedding in murky or 

 marginal waters. 



Improved Flow-Through Shedding 

 Using Sand Filtration describes how 

 to construct a filtration system. This 

 four-page Blueprint is free. Just ask 

 for UNC-SG-BP-91-02. 



SHEDDING CRABS 

 IN WELL WATER 



A temperature-controlled, well- 

 water shedding system can eliminate 



the problems of water quality and the 

 need for proximity to brackish water. 



This system uses cool groundwa- 

 ter and heating elements to regulate 

 water temperatures. The system also 

 reduces ammonia buildup because 

 water continuously seeps from the 

 reservoir and is replaced by fresh 

 well water. 



To learn more, send for Shedding 

 Soft Crabs in a Closed Well-Water 

 System. This four-page 

 Blueprint is free. Just 

 ask for UNC-SG-BP- 

 88-01. 



CRACKING 

 INTO 



CRUSTACEANS 



Want to know how 

 to clean hard and soft- 

 shell crabs? It's easy. 

 Just send for Cracking 

 into Crustaceans, a 

 colorful eight-panel brochure. It 

 describes and demonstrates a step- 

 by-step method for dressing live 

 crabs, cleaning cooked hard crabs 

 and cleaning soft shells. The bro- 

 chure is 50 cents. Just ask for UNC- 

 SG-88-01. 



Ordering Information 



When ordering Sea Grant 

 publications, please use your mailing 

 label from Coastwatch or the 

 customer identification number that 

 appears above your name. This will 

 speed delivery. Also, be sure checks 

 are made payable to Sea Grant, 

 unless otherwise specified. 



Send publication requests to: 

 Publications, Sea Grant, Box 8605, 

 N.C. State University, Raleigh, NC 

 27695. If you wish to order multiple 

 copies or need further assistance, 

 contact Carole Purser, distribution 

 manager, at 919/515-2454. 



COASTWATCH 25 



