New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-16
A CRAB FAMINE IN THE THAMES
NOT A SINGLE CATCH NEAR NORWICH.
EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE OF LAST WINTERS

EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE OF LAST WINTER S
RIGoR-CURIoUs FACTS ABOUT CRABS.
Norwich Conn. Sept. 10 (specal.-It IS a singu-
lar if not Unprecedented fact that no crabs are 70
be caught in this neighborhood this season. Foi
years Grabbing along the banks of the Thames
and its many has highly popular sport But
this year, strange to say, crabs have boon cap
tured although the most tempting old hshheadS
and the most luscious chunks Of meat have been ted
TO the ends of lines and let down whore crabs have
long congre gated.
On one of the coves near Norwich which IS IA
nous grabbing resort lives an old man, who spends
half his time land and the other half on the wafer.
"Cap'nn said the writer TO this old expert the
other day, Catching many crabs this ycaIP
"Not crab,' he replied, "Han't seen crab
this year. skeercer N feathers on a goldfish
"Isn't that somewhat remarkable 2"
"wun, ruther Never see nothin' like It before
in these parts"
Are there many crabs at this spot generally ~
"Tons of 'eml wy. I've seen 'em come into this
coqe so thick the O. the tide that they block
AIDED the mouth of 1t where We see the spile bridge
yonder and the tide didn't rise in here all cause
the water couldn't git in.'
"Would you object 10 diving down and examin-
ing the bottom aud seeing II there are any there
now7s
al tell We there amt any there But II ye make
II consideration I'll so down fer yc"
In several successive descents the old skipper
examined large OF bottom, but not sign OF
crab could DO found. The writer confirmed this
conclusion by interview with several oystcrmcn and
fishermen, who have not caught a crab this season
As to the cause for this strange absensc, they all
acree in attrhuting It 10 severity Of last winter
Crabs spawn in summer. In the fall they are about
one and half inches long and they burrow In The
mud where they spend most Of the winter season.
In the spring they are about four inches long Be
tween these two stages the young crabs are eN-
tremely tender From birth 10 maturity they arc
constantly shedding their shells and growing new
ones adapted TO their increasing size, and during a
large part Of their youth they unprotected save
by the mud in which they hide. There IS no doubt
that the extraordinary rlgor Of last winter pcne-
trafed 10 their retreat in the mud and killed them
while young This misfortune has deprived con
sumers of a delicious article Of food and fishermen
OF a profitable occupation Hard shell crabs sell
for about SO cents dozen and softshel' for III
dozen.
1t is a popular fallacy that soft-shell crabs are
different species from hard-shcn crabs. Practical
fishermen and scientific books both disprove It.
The softshen crab IS the hardshell crab soon after
II has MOULDED. Four times year 10 tne yorr-
crab and once or twice year to the grown crab
comes a season of peril and fear. lie cgawis Into
a dark Granny or nook IN the rocks, sweus out uni
he cracks open his she'll and then cIeeps out ms
operation IS sometimes extremely PAINFUL LOT ms
claws are much larger than the JOINS through
which they must be pulled, and they are often lac
Grated in the process. II his flesh did not become
soft and waeiy before shedding be could not get
out at ALL When the crab has mouled, the once
mailed warrior who feared 10 foe except moro
powerful antagonist of his kind, IS at the mercy
Of any enemy who get into his retreat. When
the female crab nloults, her male consort chival-
rously guards the entrance TO her hiding place until
her skin is covered with a fresh deposit Of lime.
Tho experienced eye tell when the change is
approaching Last year number OF sheddefs'
established themselves on the Thames few miles
south OF Norwich near Fort Point They caught
harl-shcu crabs, imprisoned them I'm CRAZE beneath
the water and when the shells had been shed, the
sOfshell crabs were shipped TO New-lOlk ana
other points.
when tho crab is BON, lie ha. long, iointed
tail and curious spno sticking out Of MS back
During the first eight days of his Life he swlms
about vigorously, casting bis coat several times.
Ihsn be loses his spine, his back becomes broader,
and Es is what ii called the tailed crab. He keeps
CROWN. and moulins and gradually folding up his
tail. until lie becomes the true walking crab. There
IS evidence that crabs possess higher order Of IN
ftinct than they generally credited with. There
Is authentic record of a quantity Of crabs caught
of the Lizard En- gland and carried TO Falmouth
harbOr, making their way beck 10 their original
grounds when the crate IN which they were imprs-
Oned was broken by storm The crabs had been
braJded and so were easily recognized.