NOTES ON THE CRAB FISHERY. 
109 
tlie risks wbicli the dealers have to run at times, it may be stated that of 3,200 crabs 
purchased by a firm one day in July, 1888, no less than 3,000 died before shipment. 
This, of course, is an unusually great loss, and is not to be taken as a basis, although 
the individual dealers estimate their losses at from 10 to 30 per cent., and even as 
high as 50 per cent, during certain periods. 
A few crabs die after leaving the hands of the shippers on the way to their des- 
tination, but this element of loss is being overcome by greater care and experience 
in packing the crabs prior to shipping them. 
A comparison of the total catch with the aggregate shipments for 1888 gives a 
difference of 628,766 crabs, with a market value of about $23,600, which figures 
represent the mortality and consequent losses. The death-rate in 1887 was even 
higher than in 1888, being 21 per cent., as against 16 per cent, in the latter year. It 
is impossible to determine with accuracy the number of crabs which die during ship- 
ment to market, and this item is not taken into consideration in the foregoing state- 
ments. 
There seems to be no remedy for this state of affairs. Although the season of 
1888 showed a small but gratifying improvement over the previous year, it can 
hardly be hoped that the mortality will ever be reduced below a somewhat high limit, 
owing to the methods of capture and handling, and to the normal vicissitudes of the 
moulting process, increased as they are by theunnaturai surroundings and conditions 
to which the crabs are subjected. 
15. Preparing crabs for shipment. — The crates in which the soft crabs are packed 
for market are about 4 feet long, IJ or 2 feet deep, and the same in width. They are 
provided with neatly fitting trays, in which the crabs are placed between layers of 
crushed ice and sea- weed. The capacity of the crates is from eight to ten dozen. 
Soft crabs possess but little tendency to move, and when once packed in position, 
with their legs well folded up and their bodies placed obliquely, so that the moisture 
may not run from their mouths, they remain quiescent for a long time. This fact 
permits of the packing of a large number of crabs in a very small space. 
16. Martlets . — The principal markets to which the crabs are sent are New York 
Boston, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington. The larger part of 
the crabs are shipped by rail, but considerable quantities destined for Baltimore go by 
steamer. There is also a small but increasing demand among the inland towns of 
Pennsylvania and other States adjacent to Crisfield. 
17. Prices to dealers . — The crabs are generally sold on commission, at prices vary- 
ing with the supply and the demand. From 35 to 60 cents per dozen were the ruling 
rates in 1887 and 1888, although the average price was considerably higher in the 
former year, being 53 cents against only 40 cents in 1888. The enhancement in value 
was about $39,000 in 1887 and $43,000 in 1888, these amounts representing the gross 
profits of the dealers. 
II.— THE HARD CRAB FISHERY AND TRADE. 
A. — The Fishery. 
18. Relative importance of the fishery. — Although hard crabs can be taken at Cris- 
field in almost uidimited quantities, the fishery foi’ them is of comjiaratively little impor- 
tance, as will appear from an inspection of the accompanying statistical tables. The 
