The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-26
THE CURIOUS CRAWFISH.
\ Crustacean Highly Esteemed as
Food by Germans and by Bass.

"The crawdsh hasn't come 10 be much
appreciated in this country as food.
said a Fulton Market fish dealer. "al-
though among a small circle of epicures
here IL is alleged 10 be highly priced.
I'm some European countries. and espe-
cally ln northern Germany. the crawfsh
as an edible crustacoan Is in such de-
mand that It Is largely grown by arti-
fetal propagation.
1.-The crawfsh is IN many respects
curious creature. N is 90 tardy in reach
ing maturity that 90 requires from twelve
10 FIFTEEN years 10 attain ITS growth. which
Is between three and five inches. The
male crawfsh live in colonies in holes IN
the river or creek banks. and the female,
especially while waiting for her eggs 10
hatch. prefers 20 live by herself. The
crawhsh' hunts its pray 40 night and be-
gins The quest as soon as dusk sets In.
Crawhsh are never found IN any numbers
and never OF mature size OBJ waters in
hablted by cells or pickerel. The eel Is
the greatest enemy and destroyer. The
crawhsh sheds its shell every year, the
male I'm June and the female I'm July.
They are then the most tender and deli
cate OF creatures and especially priced az
bait for bass. The most prolific water
for crawash I ever knew IS the Miami
River in Ohio. There are no eels or pick
erel I'm that stream, but 20 is noted for a
choice variety OF bass. The bass Will sell
dom take any other bait than the soft
crawfsh. For other fish the tail OF the
hard craw. as the natives call IT, with
the shell peeled from the hard. white
sweet flesh. is a killing bait II the angler
can get it within reach OF the fsn ne Is
hoping 10 catch before II IS seized by
some living crawhsh.
IF a fisherman is after cravfsh for
bait he has only 20 let down piece or
pork or beef or any other kind OF flesh,
or even a piece OF potato or turnip, tied
10 string. In a moment svery crew
that can get A hold on IT With IT'S claws
will quickly do so. II the string is pulled
Nd slowly and steadily not a craw will
let loose OF the bait until T. IS landed on
the bank or in the boat. The fisherman
wrenches the tail from the body and
casts the latter away So tenacious OF
life are the crawfsh that II IS common
sight 20 see scores OF these muulated
bodies crawling about the river banks
and returning 10 the water. where they
will live for hours The craws that are
captured I'm his way are ali hard shells.
The soft shells are so delicate that II
would not be possible for them 10 cling
with their claws 10 anything. They are
caught by turning over stones on the
bottom OF the river. where they hide dur
ing the season in which they are shed
ders Anglers who want them for bait
are not the only foes that invade the
hiding places OF the soft shelled crawfsh.
Bass constantly hunt them. turning over
the stones 10 uncover them with as much
skill as the angler can. That such enor-
nous quantities OF crawhsh survive the
shedding season In the Miami river IS
one Of the wonders Of piscatorial life.
Although the crawhsh Will survive FOR
hours and sometimes a day or more, the
mutilation a. which a fisherman will sub
ioct A. il will soon die n laid on its back
and kept there. II placed in that posi-
tion IL works violently with its rows OF
feet and its claws. which seem 20 soon
exhaust II and cause its death. The
craufsh will live for week or more
out of water II kept IN cool. moist
Mace Those Europeans Who consider
this crustacean a delcacy have a super
stitlon that they are not good IN me
months containing the letter H. unlike
the belief in this country that oysters
are only good in such months. IL Is de-
clared 10 be a fact by growers ana snip
pers OF crawfsh thar II thunder storm
arises while they are In transit tney VIII
dc instantlv-N Y, sun.