NOTES ON THE CRAB FISHERY. 
IIJ 
III — THE PREPARATION OF CRAB MEAT. 
2G. Description of the process . — Two of the fish firms already referred to are con- 
cerned in extracting the meat from the hard crabs and in shipping it in bulk to 
market, where it is chiefly used in hotels and restaurants. 
Although of no great importance, it seems desirable to refer to this branch of the 
business in order to make the subject approximately complete. 
The crabs are boiled for a few minutes in some large receptacle suited to the purpose, 
and when cool their shells are cracked and the meat is extracted by means of a small 
knife. From 60 to 75 crabs are usually required to yield a gallon of the meat, although 
as few as 47 or 50 large crabs are sufficient. The meat is packed in tin buckets 
and shipped in ice. 
27. Persons employed . — The crab-pickers are employed only at odd times and in no 
defluite numbei’S. They are usually women, who hold themselves in readiness when 
the shippers have orders to fill. They become quite expert in the business, and strip 
a crab of its meat in a remarkably short time. They are not on wages, but are paid 
in proportion to the amount of work done. 
28. The yearly output . — The demand for crab meat is as yet not extensive, and the 
quantity prepared annually is small and usually on contract. In 1888 about 27,000 
crabs were utilized in this way, yielding 395 gallons of meat, valued at $1.20 per gal- 
lon. In 1887 the output was about 8 per cent, less than the following year. 
IV.-STATISTICS. 
The following tables show in detail the extent of the soft and hard crab fishery and 
trade at Crisfield in 1887 and 1888. The data w< re obtained by personal investiga- 
tion and from actual records contained in the books of dealers and fishermen. 
29. — The fisher y. 
Character of fishery. 
Soft and peeler crabs 
Hard crabs 
Total 
Character of fishery. 
Soft and peeler crjibs 
Hard crabs 
Total 
Number of 
Boats. 
fishermen. 
1887. 
1888. 
1887. 1888. 
No. 
Value. 
No. 
Value, 
685 77.3 
548 
$22, 400 
626 
$31, 3( 0 
12 12 
12 
900 
12 
000 
697 i 785 
560 
23, 300 
638 
32, 200 
Value of appa- 
ratus of capture. 
Crabs taken. 
1887. 
1888. 
1887. 
1888. 
No. 
Value'. 
No. 
Value. 
$1, 800 
120 
$2, 100 
120 
2, 199. 931 
"471, 413 
$38, 502 
2, 359 
3, 928, 308 
*509, 515 
$69, 743 
2, 386 
1,920 
2, 220 
2, 071, 344 
40, 861 
4, 437, 823 
72,129 
* Including the crabs used m the preparation of crab meat. 
