The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-07-18
ABOUT SOFT CRABS.
Killed by Thunder torms-The Process
of Shedding.

Killed by Thunder torms-The Process
of Shedding.
Baltimore Morning Herald.
Very few people except dealers know
that soft crabs cannot survive a thunder
storm after they are taken out of their
native element. Much testimony in sup
port of the theory can be adduced from
those who have given the subject ma
ture study and investigation, and on
whose hands dozens upon dozens OF the
delightful crustaceans have been lost.
Yet while they will tell you that it is
true, it is thing that does not seem to
be susceptible of any explanation, and
divers persons will advance divers the
cries as to the probable cause. All
agree that the only place where the
safety of the soft crab is assured during
thunderstorm is Ill the refrigerator,
Onca there his crabshIp is able to defy
the outward raging Of the storm, and is
safely housed from AL the thunder aud
lightning that the elements can send.
One theory advanced is that the crab,
being in an extremely sensitive state
and entirely out of its element, hears the
roar Of the thunder and sees the light
ning's flash, and is thereby frightened to
death. This theory would not seem to
be tenable. The crab, as is we'll known,
when ready to shed, leaves the deep
water and crawls up on the shore, where
it remains in a helpless state in few
inches of water during the shedding pro.
cess and until sufficiently hardened t.
return to the deep water. In the course
OF season, and i'll Il body of water OF
any size, there must be large numbers of
them that thus pass through thun Ter
storms. If they are killed they would
remain there or be cast up on the sand;
but the crabber who adopts the plan of
rolling up his trousers and wading round
the river shore, with dip net in one
hand and pulling his boat along with the
other, does not find amy more dead crabs
after storm than at any other time.
1T is undoubtedly true" said fish
dealer on Light street wharf yesterday.
that thunder ste rms are fatal to soft
crabs, unless the latter are placed in a
refrigerator. The idea that they are
scared to death is an absurdity, and in
deed, do not think that it is the thun-
del and lightning primarily that kills
them"
'',Then, i'll what way do you account
for it?''
why, because of the state of the
atmosphere just before and during a
thunder storm. 1t is hot. sulphurous
and oppressive. The crab is changed
from his accustomed temperature, and
while in its delicate state is unable to
stand the sudden transition. Place him
in the refrigerator aud all this is ex-
cluded, and the danger consequently o.
waited.
''Or it may be that there is all aua-
logy between the phosphorus which en-
tiers largely into the compo> itiun of crabs
and iisa--wheh suffer equally as much
and the electrical condition of the air.
But whatever may be the cause. do not
believe it is the direct influence of the
thunder.
Il remember perfectly many years ago
there came damp cloudy, hot spell of
several weeks duratinn-onc of those
miserable spells when it seems that the
sun will never Shine again. The Their
mometer stood at 80 but there WIS no
thunderstorm and every crab died Ii
was impossible to find live ones any
where. That would seem to knock the
thunder out of the thunder theory
wouldn't liz?
,1,.,t.
preservalive properties of the ice boxeso'
Il have kept them in that way for 81
days, and after p tssing through Thunder.
storms took them ont after that time as
perfect as when put there"
GLOW does the soft crab live for SO
long time; What snstains it,"
- They live on their own fat, thew are |
incapable OF eating food while in the soft
state and by wise provision of nature |
they become very fat before shedding in |
ord II that they may be there by sustained,
| have kept 100 dozen in that way in ex
pcrimenting and have watched them
carefully until dminution OF fat was
visible. ! want t" call your attention to
one fact. said the dealer, (which is in
regard to the statement that the soft
shell crab is the ordinary blue channel
crab after it has shed. Tlis is not So.
After the crab has taken on enough fat
until it has passed thr c,Jug Ii the shedding I
ordeal It -t 5hAesh becomes a 'peeler', and |
the new shell begins to fotm under the |
old. When the formation of the new
shell is completed the old shell begins to |
crack around the sides and yields readily |
to the pressure of the finger. Then he |
is known as a burst coat, or bus coat
as 1t is popularity called by watermen.
After that the shell is soon off and we |
have the delightful soft crab. Emerging
from this state of helpessness he passes
through several other gradations before
he is known as the regular blue channel
crab
''How often does the crab shed during
the season."
"Oh! a number of times; and each time
precisely the same process is gone
When he is blue he is then
very poor, and, gradually taking on his
fat, he goes off to the shore and there re-
mains until the old coat is exchanged for
a brand new one. OF course you know
that the crab sheds in order to grow.
That is the only way in which he can
grow. and every time that the old shell
is cast oft he expands rapidly in SIZE"
when do they first begin sheddingo"
when they are about the size of
mans finger nail the singular work of
nature begins and continues frequently
until they have attained their full size"
Mr.. Cleveland Is Consistent,
From the Bugdlo Courier.
Nobody has a right to say that he was