110 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
fishermen think that soft crabs are more remunerative and more certain of a ready 
sale than hard crabs, and for that reason the fishery for the latter is completely over- 
shadowed by that for the former. 
Only twelve men were regularly engaged in this fishery in 1887 and 1888, and 
the capital invested in boats and apparatus amounted to but $1,000, while the value 
of the crabs, at first hands, was only about $2,400. 
19. Fishing grounds . — These are similar to those frequented by the soft-crab 
fishermen, but, as a rule, are not so far distant from Crisfield. At the present time by 
far the greater part of the catch of the regular crabbers is made in the Little Anue- 
messex Eiver, in close proximity to the town. Large fares are taken, and there has 
been no inducement to seek other but more distant grounds, which will be available 
should the supply nearer home become exhausted. 
20. AjgparaUis and methods of caj)ture . — W hile considerable quantities of hard crabs 
are taken with dip-nets and in the dredges of the soft-crab fishermen, the apparatus 
employed by the professional fishermen is set-lines, or “trot liiies,” baited with tripe. 
The ends of the lines are buoyed or staked. In hauling them the men begin at one end 
and propel their boats along while carefully under-running the lines. The snoods to 
which the bait is tied are pulled up with caution, and the crabs which are clinging to 
the tripe are secured with a small dip-net. Usually but one man goes in a boat. 
21. Results of the fishery. — The average catch of hard crabs per man is necessarily 
larger than in the soft crab fishery, owing to the more productive apparatus in use 
and to the greater facility with which the crabs are handled. 
The total yield of hard crabs in 1887 and 1888 was 471,413 and 509,516, respect- 
ively, these being taken chiefly by regular hard-crab fishermen. Hot an inconsider- 
able number were also obtained by irregular and soft-crab fishermen and sold to 
dealers, by whom they were shipj)ed. 
22. Prices to fishermen. — In 1887 and 1888 the jirice for hard crabs varied but 
little from 50 to 60 cents per hundred. This is not considered by the fishermen to be 
a sufficient inducement to abandon the fishery for soft crabs, for each of which from 
to 2| cents are obtained. The principal hard-crab fishermen at Crisfield ship their 
own crabs, however, and are thus able to realize better prices. 
, B.— The Trade. 
23. Extent of trade . — The handling and shipping of hard crabs at Crisfield is only inci- 
dental to the general trade in fishery products carried on by four dealers, except in 
the case of the hard-crabbers who send their own catch to market. 
24. Methods of shipment . — Hard crabs do not require the care in packing and shipping 
which soft crabs need. They are simply crowded into large boxes and barrels, covered 
with wooden strips or sack-cloth, and shipped to their destination, usually without the 
use of ice or moist sea- weed. The mortality amounts to practically nothing. 
25. Marhets and prices . — Hard crabs are sent to the same markets to which the soft 
crabs are shipped. Owing to their hardiness they can also be sent for longer distances 
to many of the interior cities of the country. The average gross price received in 
1887 and 1888 was 65 cents per hundred. 
