The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1879-09-27
Catching Crabs for the New York
Market

Not the least important of the various
branches of industry on the south side of
Long Island is that ofcrab fishing. Many
of the inhabitants of the villages border
| ing on the western portion of the Great
South bay depend, during a portion of
the year, almost entirely upon their sales
of soft crabs for the necsssaries of life.
Nearly all the soft crabs received at the
New York markets from tits section of
the country are taken from the waters
lying between Amityville and Rock
away. OF these, by far the largest num-
bef. fully seventy per cent. come from
Mcrrick Cove, a small bay situated be-
tween Merrick and Freeport, and within
evenly minutes sail of either place.
Here scores of crab fishermen from the
neighboring villages congregate every
summer, many of them living during
| the season in a sloop's cabin or a small
wooden building erected on the marsh
for the purpose.
The season for crab fishing usually be-
gins here about the middle of June or
firstof 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 he carries with him, and his sleep
and rest is taken at any time when he
can spare an hour or two from his busi-
ness, and during stormy weather.
The crabber's outfit consists Of a small |
rowboat, a small scoop-net with q hole
about ten feet long attached, two OF
three empty butter tubs. q jack-lantern
and from one to five or six cars, ac-
cording to the success of his labors. The
two empty tubs are filled with water
and placed on the stern of the boat, for
the purpose of receiving any 6 buster =
Ito use the professional term which
| the man may take during the day.
Il When Il crab shows up the fisher-
man has no time to lose; for the crab is
quick on the fin, or rather on the leg,
| and will be off like a shot unless inter-
cepted in his flight by a dexterous use Of
the scoop-net. The professional crabber
| is, however, an adeut at his business,
and with a single twirl of his net he 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. After catching all
that he can find. the fisherman returns
to his cars and begins the work of sort
ing and distributing those which he has
taken. The ripest, OF those which will
shed their hard shell in from twelve to
forty eight hours, are termed she'd
ders, and placed in a car by themselves.
Next to these comes the "ripe COM
mers 7 and then follow the green COM
mers."
The ripe and green commers are usual
ly put into car together and over
hauled by their owners daily, for. the
purpose of transferring those which
have become sufficiently ripe to the
shedder car.
When crab is ready to she'd he
will begin toswell gradually until the
back and ends of his shell burst open.
He 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-
pearance by the transformation. They
are left in the water for about three
hours after they become soft-crabs, wher
they are taken. out and packed in baskets
for the New York markct.-Neac York
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