Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Catching Grabs for the New YorL
Market.

Not the least important Of the various
branches Of industry on the south side Of
Long Island is that ofcrah fishing. Many
of the inhabitants of the Villages border
ing on the western portion Of the Great
South bay depend, during portion of
the year. almost entirely upon their sales
Of soft crabs for the ngcsssarics Of life
Nearly all the sDn crabs received ai the
New York markets from this section Of
the country are taken from the waters
lying between AmityyillC and Rock
away. or these, By far the largest num-
ber 0u.ly seventy per cent come from
Mcrrick Cove. n small bay situated be-
tween MerTick and Frceport. and within
cwcnty minutes -ail Of either place.
Here scores Of crab fishermen from the
ncighboring villages Congrcgatc every
summer many OF them living during
the season in sloop's cabin or = small
wooden building erected on The marsh
for the purpose.
The season for crab fishing gusutlly BE-.
gins here about the middle Of June or
first Of July. and closes about the last of
September. During this time the crab
fisher must work both day and night /;
not tide must be missed If he would
make his business pay him well. His
food hc carries with him. and his sleep
and rest Is taken at any time when he
can spare an hour or two from his bust.
ness, and during stormy weather.
The Crabber's outfit consists Of a small
fowh boat. n small scoop-n,t with a holc
about ten feet long attached, two on
three empty butter tubs, a jack-lantcrn
and from one 10 five or six "cars.' ac-
cording to the success OF his lahors Tho
two empty tubs are filled with water
and placed on the stern Of the boat, for
the purpose OF receiving any buster -
to usa the professional tcrm-which
tho man may take during thr day.
When a crab shows up " the fisher
man has no time 10 lose: for the crab Il
quick on tie fin. or rather ON the leg.
and will b. of like n shot unless inter
ceptod in his flight by a deNterous use Of
the scoop-net. The professional crabbcr
Is, however. an adcpt at his business.
and with single twirl of his net lac will
frequently land the most active member
Of the crab family. The catching is
done at low water. and occupies from
two to three hours of the crabber's time
during each tide. Amer catching all
that he can find. the fisherman returns
Ia his ears and begins the work Of sort
ing and distributing those which he has
taken. The ripest. or those which will
shed their hard shell In from twelve 10
forty.eight hours. are termed shed
ders." and placed in "A car 10y themselves.
Next to these comes the ripe COM
mers and then follow the green COM
mers.n
The ripe and green commrrs are usual
" put into q ear together and over
hauled by their owners daily. for the
purpose Of transferring those which
have become sufficiently ripe To the
shedder car.
When n crab IL ready 10 "shcd " he
will begin to swell gradually until the
back and ends Of his shell burst open.
lie Is now termed buster" by his
owner. and will literally back out Of his
"old coat" and come forth considerably
enlarged and very much improved in ap-
pcarancc by the transformation. They
are left in the water for about three
hours after they become soft-crabs. when
they are taken out and packed in baskets
for the New York market. Nor Ioyk
HNugse