The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-28
Sport OF CATCHING CRABS.

Different Plans Followed by Fishermen.
Paper shells - and Iiuckrams."
DO all fishermen follow the same plan.'
ASKED tho reporter.
NO; some bait for them, and in ConncCti-
cut fishermen spear for them in shallow
water with Il thrcc-tinct fork dashed to II pole.
Thousands of crabs are caught every day i'll
the NaycSink and Shrewsbury rivers and
their creeks with nothing but a scoop net.
Fishermen pole their boat along with these
nets and scrapc up the crabs from the sandy
bed of tho river at the same time. This kind
of Grabbing. however takes smart fisher
man and a strong one Then there are mar
ket Crabhers, who use a set line or trawl,
baited with meat They anchor line nearly
1900 feet long in a tideway. from which
hang several hundred bats. Then starting
with the tide they lift the kne over the boat
ard float slowly down its length, gathering in
the crabs rs they proceed, which they throw
into a barrel When the crab is taken from
the line the bait is again thrown over and
sinks, so that when the fisherman has trav
ersed the length Of his trawl he is ready TO
row back and float down again as before,
which he repeats as many times rs possible on
that tide. To fill Il barrel by this method is
an easy thing in good season."
Il have seen men grabbing, though, from
the shore, it seemed to me-
essential to sport. Besides, it is disagreeable.
y man must wade in soft, Shiny mud up to
his knees. Every step he takes he must prod
into each Of his recent footprints with pair
of wooden tongs When he feels crab he
pulls it out and drops it into a bag or basket.
Trolling is more sport than Hat grabbing. y
reel line is haited and the crab Is played in to
shallow water, where it is scooped up in n net.
There is considerable sport i'll trolling for
- * nj
For excitement another plan is to work in
and ont among the Spiles of n bridge and
scoop up the doubles or males and females
that cling TO the moss rs the tide goes out.
BY this plan you get an even number Of
boilers and 'fryers as the upper crab is
always rather a soft she'll paper she'll or
'buckram'"
"What do you mean ~ paper shelf and
'buckram""
"Once a month in the summer the crab dis
cards his armor. He feels he is growing too
large TO still wear the same coat and sets
about getting new and n larger one, after
making for himself an elastic set Of under
clothing, which covers him from his finger
tips, 50 to speak, up to and over his eyeballS.
Meanwhile he assumes bilious hue, and in
this state proves seductive bait for the angler
in quest OF weakfish or bass 1t is not the
favor that renders him good for bait, but it
- JlllS Ssiillc suit bf
soft or hard crab viii not hang to n hook.
When he puts on this undersuit he is known
as u conner 1t takes about two days to grow
this inner skin and then the crab becomes a
'sheddcr.' In another day he pulls out the
bolt from the rear Of his shell, and firmly
gripping piece Of grass or seawced, backs
entirely out of his she'll Seemingly it is
painful process, and often while the shedder'
is taking Off his five pairs of trousers, as it
were, he will be encouraged and assisted by
sympathizing friends. In this state he is
looked upon as an agreeable accompaniment
to a slice Of nicely-browned toast, if rolled in
egg or cracker crumbs, and fried in seething
hot butter or olive oil. IL he remains TWEEN
ty-four hours in the water after crawling
from his too contracted shell his skin absorlrs
enough lime to givc it n stiffness like that of
writing paper. Then he is known as paper
she'll and in another day his skin becomes
still more tough and be becomes 'buckram'
or a 'huckler. IN. y. Mail and Express.