P. O. BOX 2051 
Alaska 
Historical Library and Museum 
Juneau, Alaska 
28 
June 26 . 1948 
Dr, Waldo Schmidt 
Curator of Invertebrates 
U.S. National ' useum 
Washington 25 , D . C. 
Dear Doctor Schmidt 
In the Juneau ares, and at least as far south 
as Wrangell and Petersburg we have two large crabs, known locally 
as the "king crab" and the "giant spider crab". Locally, they are 
distinguished principally by the belief that the "king crab" has 
three ambulatory legs on each side, whereas the "giant spider crab" 
has four. The other differences are that the king gets larger, has 
thicker legs, black claw tips, covered with sharp spines (legs and 
carapace) Both are caught locally and eaten. At Marmiom island 
the giant spider is most numerous altho occasionally the king is taken, 
I find nothing in the literature about the 6-legged 
king crab. However, in every photograph that we have of this crab 
every specimen has six rather than eight ambulatory legs. Our large 
mounted specimen has 6 legs and not even vestigal rear legs showing. 
Gan you tell me, 1st: what are the scientific names 
of these two species. 2nd: are they covered by Rathbun. 3rd. Is the 
Alaskan king crab distinguished by the presence of only 6 ambdlatory 
legs. 
most welcome. 
Any information concerning these crabs will be 
s ’- 1 
Sincerely 
I / 
.Ksithahn/ 
Curator and Librarian 
