The morning times., 1896-05-25
A CRAB RACE.
Crabs Have as strong HoaIing In
stInct az Pigeons.

stinct as Pigeons
Down in the southeast coast Of Eng
land, not far from the ancient town Of
Yarmouth, lived not many years q go u
family which was mainly supported by
the boys, four or five OF wuom aided
their father in catching crabs, which
sooner or later found their way 70 The
great markets of London
The crab fisheries on the coast have
been followed for many years. and as the
eaten Is uncertain the fishermen often
SAIL long distances up and down the
coast to localities which are Eetter sup
piled. Various methods were empIovs.I
20 catch the cFustaeeanS that swept
dIong the bottom In vast. schools, a.. IN
some instances traps were set over
night, well baited. and hauieI in the
morning, but the favOrite method OF the
boys was TO find place where crabs
were very plentiful and lower a net
FORMED OF iron barrel hoops, Wen baitetI
Into this the crUstaceans would crawl.
and when the tray was well filled the
boys would pull tt up suddenly. always
securing half a dozen or more crabs
so IL happened that upon one occasion
the young fishermen who each used a
net, had pleasant dispute as to who
made the biggest catch: so they deter
mined to mark the crabs on the follow
ing day This was done by tying pieces
or strong 0n to the claws of the crabs as
They came in soon the barrel was flied
AMI the wind being fair the lugger sails
were shaken our and the crabbers bore
away toward home.
As the little fleet moved along it was
oVertaken by storm, and the boat. con-
tanning the boys careened so suddenly
when nearly in port that she almost
calsized, only FightiHg as the heavy barrel
or crabs rolled over into the sea, relea sing
The imprisoned cruStaceaus six or seven
miles from where they were caught a
few hours previous.
The boats all made port. scudding be-
fore the gale, aa1 a few DAYS later, when
the STORM had subsiied were again on
the grabbing grou ncis with nets ser. The
first trap filled was hauled in by the old
fisherman, and as he took out the crabs
gingeTty to avoid their biting claw he
uttered an exclamation OF amazefnent
What's the natter" asked one Of the
boys.
Natter said his father. why. out Of
ten crabs three have neckerchiefs on
''NecSerchiefsF' repeated the SON
We'll. 1t locks very ike it continued
the old man. holding up crab that had
piece Of white rag Ike a badge of office
fastened around it's big arm
why. that's one of cur crabs that we
lost IN the capsiZing last week" ex-
claimed the boy. We tied 'em that way.
some white. some black, SO that We could
see who caught the most
Il see" said the old crabber But
there's another puzzle: you lost your load
down by the head. five miles from here:
how did the crabs get back9''
They must have walked or swuTn"
replied another boy.
What. crab walk five miles in three
days. and side WAYS at that? don't be-
leve it." replied the father.
Here's two more" shouted a boy who
had been hauling in the net. holding up a
couple of crabs with strings tied about
their biting claws
We'll" said the old fisherman. Il never
believed crabs could find their way home,
a matter of five miles or more
In all probability few persons sffSpect
that crabs have what is called the hoTning
instinct that IS sn pronounced in pigeons.
and can make their way along a muddy
coast a distance Of several miles. but crabs
and many animals travel faster than one
would suppose.