Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-01-22
A Playful and Intelligent Crab.

A Playful and Intelligent Crab.
From the San Francisco Call.
A number of passengers on the two o.
clock Oakland boat the other day wit
messed an interesting and curious ex-
hibitiOn. A man having every appear
anes of being a sailor stood on the lower
forward deck beside large pail, which
WAS filled with sea water. In this pail
was a crab of enormous size, and, to
judge by the punches of barnacles upon
his back, OF considerable age. The sail
or was genial fellow, and appeared to
be proud of his pet. He first Informed
the surrounding passengers that the crab
was the humble p0ssessOr OF the name
of Ned" and that in addition Of owning
name he would answer to that name.
This was received with incredulOus
smiles on the part of the On-lOOkers. The
crab could be observed lying mOtiOnless
at the bottom of the pail. as apparently
contented with his position as though he
was delylng in the mud at the bottom of
the bay. The sailor kneeled beside the
pail and gave subdued whistle and
then mnttered "Ned, Ned" twice. In
stantly there was a cOmmotiOn in the
water, as the crab wriggled its joints
and bObbed around like spider impaled
on the point Of needle. The motion
was kept up until ii succeeded in getting
two claws over the edge of the pail. 1t
then tried to draw itself up. The sailor
suddenly ceased whistling, whereupOn
Ned dropped into his mOtiOnless atti-
tude, only to rouse up again upon a rop-
titien OF the whistle and the calling of
his name. At last he got grip upon
the pail with one Of his claws and drew
himself up almost clear OF the water.
His master came to his relief and laid
him out upon the deck. Here he strut
ted around in his awkward fashion to
the infinite amusement of everyone. He
was apparently delighted, and when his
master stretched out hand to him he
strOked it with his claws and even pre-
tended to "nip" it as kittens play bite,"
but il was noticeable that he did not
close on 1t. When any OF the passen gers
apprOached it appeared sensible OF the
difference between them and his master,
and drawing up his eXtremities lay sul-
lenly in one place. UpOn being asked
whether "Ned" eonld do any more won
derful things the sailor replied that he
could. He dropped "Ned" into his pail
to his crabsbip's satisfaction.
H'H tue plcdseV OWutI uItW lTOBl Hlb
pocket a piece of thin rope. This he
stretched between two OF the deck posts,
about three feet from tho deck. The
crowd of spectators, which was now
swslled by many from the upper deck.
who had heard that something extraOr-
binary was going on, pressed around.
eager to see what the next act was on |
the programme. The sailer picked Ned |
out of his natural element once moro
and hung him to the rope, his erabship |
the line tightly with one of |
his nippsrs. His master then began q
low, mOnOtonous whistle, and ''Ned" put |
himself in motion, He evidently knew
Just what was expected Of him, and
strotchiRg out his spare nipper he got
hold of the rope short space along.
Then, wriggling his claws, no released
his first hold and caught the rope again
'lose to his second "nipper," In this
fashion he worked himself along to abont
he middle of the rope, when he stopped.
His master held his hands beneath him,
had he dropped into them exhausted.
The sailor explained that Ned became
weak after he was out Of the water very
org. Neds achievement was hailed
with delight by the passengers, and
many ladies pressed forward to look at
lim as he Law in tho bottom of the nail