Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
CRABS AND THEIR PECULIiRlTIEs.
Frank Wilkeson in n. Y. SUM-

CRABS AND THEIR PECULIiRlTIEs.
Frank Wilkeson in n. Y. SUM-
When a crab sheds its shell, which it does
once month throughout the warm season,
it is probably the most helpless creature in
existence 1t is merely lump of delicate,
soft flesh, with soft, boneess legs attached.
II is as defenseless as the naked oyster
would be. Any fish could eat it. Any sea
spider or sea flea could kill it. II cannot
move, as its sheathless legs are unable TO
support its weight. Where the water teens
with fishes eager 10 dovour one another.
and where eels, bloody minded and ever
hungry, ceaselessly beat their feeding
ground in search of food, it is surprising
that crabs are not eXterminated. They
would be if it were not for most marvel.
Gus provision of nature. | am told by
truthful men that When crab finds his
shell too small for him, that, though usually
the most unsocal aud irritable of creatures,
he makes signals Of distress. True to the
unwritten maritime law that governs crab
life, The first bardshell crab that sees
the plight that his brother is IN, hastens to
him.
Reassured by the protective presence of
his relative, the crab that has outgrown his
clothes cunningly shucks himself out OF
them. This operation is watched with great
interest and considerable excitement by the
hardshelled crab. When completed so that
the crab lies unclad and helpless before him,
he does not eat him, as one would expect
such cross-graiued and selfish creature
to do. He waits until tho soft crab has
tucked his unprotected legs under him and
folded his claws, as though prayerfully be-
seechipg Divine protection, and then he
gently gets on top Of his defenceless rela-
tive. He carefully places his long legs
under him, and hugs him lightly and )oE-
ingly to his breast.
The hardshelled crab stands, or rather
lies on his post of duty staunchly. When
on guard, he will resolutely face anything
that swims in the water, and fight with
reckless courage. Eels, fish, anything and
everything that swoops around the softshell
crab will be flercely attacked by the pop.
eyed, bad-tempered sentinel that is on duty.
1t is seldom that he will desert his post in
the presence Of man When softshcled
crab is taken in net, his protector is gen
orally secured also. If unGisturbed by man
they do not leave their helpless comrade
until his shcll is sufficiently hard to enable
him to protect himself, which is generally
in from three TO four days. Then he walks
off sideways, with his eyes sticking out and
his claws waving, as much IS TO say: III
you look crooked ct me, my little boy, III
come back and pinch YOU"
He knows that he has rendered great
service to one of his kind, and he contiden
TALLY expects some other crab TO render
him the same invaluable service in his hour
of need; but be wants no tenderness, no
loving thanks. He did it through his stern
sense of duty. He knows his kind, and knows
that any stranger crab he meets during his
travels will answer his purpose as we'll as
the one he has befriended So he sullenIy
retires to the shade afforded by bit of sea-
weed and there devotes his attention to
catching something to eat.
Crabs have the peculiar property of being
able to shed, or throw off, their limbs at
will They can, if it is necessary to their
safety, drop any or all their legs, or either
or both of their claws. The mutlation is
OF but slight consequence, as new legs or
claws speedily grow. 1t is no wonder that
they fight fiercely, since they know that the
loss of limbs will not disable them. | have
seen comparatively small crabs firmly held
by claw or leg by larger ones. After
struggling to free themselves minute, they
would throw off the limb by which they
wera held, and run away. Where many
crabs are confined in box or basket, large
| numbers of them will drop one or both
claws before they have been confined an
| hour. If their legs and claws are tested
| when they are first caught, it will be found
that they are firmly attached to the body OF
the crab Pull on the legs, one by one, and
it will be seen that any leg is sufficiently
strong to hold up the weight of the crab
Take hold of one of the strong fippers, the
one you just held him up by, and hold him
over the water There he has thrown of
the fipper, and has fallen into the water
and is off.
What do crabs eat? Everything that
they come across that they can get nour'
ishment from. Dead fish, dead animals, bits
of meat or bread, vegetables, and some
kinds of poorly protected shell fish. They
have intelligence, and can and do dig clans
for food. The soft shelled or long necked
CLANS burrow into the mud that lies on the
bottom of the bays to the depth of from four
inches to one foot. The crabs know that
soft. .shelled CLANS can not shut their shells
tightly, and that they can eat them. They
find the clam bed, and, if the CLANS are moi
deeply buried, they dig them up and eat
them.
| @np DETEpMTN ALTON and nreparations 70,