S78 APTERA. 
tbe crab commonly appears to be a timid 
animal, yet on these occasions it acts a 
very courageous part, and generously de- 
fends its friends from fisb and insects ; but 
tbe fisbermen, by observing wbere tbese 
guards are stationed, are able to discover 
tbe soft crabs. In winter tbe crab is 
seldom found, but in summer it inhabits 
all our rocky shores, generally preferring 
those rocks wbich are about twenty fa- 
thoms under water. 
* Lucy. How much is a fathom, mam- 
ma? 
Mother. A fathom is two yards, or 
six feet ; therefore twenty fathoms 19 a 
hundred and twenty ftet, 
^ 'JLucif, I cannot imagine how crabs 
are caught at such an amazing depth. 
Mother, They are taken in traps 
made of wicker work, and baited with 
refuse meat, of which they are very fond. 
These traps are sunk to the bottom of the 
sea by large stones, and a rope is fastened 
fo each of them, with a buoy to mark \U 
place. ^J'f^ -^^i 
