The U.S. Coast Guard will enforce the ban in the sanctuary. The sanctuary will be named the Carl N. Schuster Horseshoe Crab Reserve in honor of Dr. Schuster, the world's leading expert on horseshoe crabs. Artificial Bait Might Help Horseshoe Crabs People use horseshoe crabs to catch eel and conch. Since horseshoe crabs are in such high demand by conch and eel fisherman, people are trying to conserve the crab. Scientists have been working to make artificial bait.
Watermen say egg-bearing female horseshoe crabs are the best bait.
It seems there is something in the horseshoe crab eggs that attracts the conch and eel. When tested in a lab as bait, an extract prepared from horseshoe crab eggs is more effective than either the tissue or muscle from the adult crabs. The problem is that it would be very expensive to make in large quantities. However, there is hope. The adult crab s blood seems also to contain the same material that s in the eggs that attracts eel and conch.