The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
MOTT SHELL oRAB EARMING.
An Industry In y Maryland Town That
Yields n Half Milton Annually.

Yields n Half Milton Annually.
From he Philadelphia Time,
CRIsFIELD, Md, July N-Less than quar-
ter OF a century ago when James Kyle, James
Landon and other citizens OF this place orig
mated the system OF impoundlng crabs and
caring for them until after they shed. and then
shipping them to market. they were laughed
at and ridlculed and Jeeringly referred to as
crab breeders" But the idea proved a most
most important one, and 1t has spread and
grown until to-day 1t Is a source of income to
the people Of Crsleld aud this immediate
vicinity OF 100000 annually.
1t is difficult for one who has never visited
Crisfed to imagine the commercial Importance
OF the soft crab fishery. and the very large scale
on which crab breeding is carried on. Its
growth has been phenomenal, and largely in
strumental In making this section one OF the
wealthiest in the State Of Maryland, The peo-
pie here can match dollars with any class Of
laboring folk In the United States.
Collecting the soft and "peeler" crabs is the
main industry at this season. from MAY to Sep
TENDER. inclusive, and 1t affords profitable and
easy work to thousands who would perhaps
otherwise be unemployed The soft crab.
which is so abundant throughout the Chesa-
peake Bay. is found on the Atlantic coast from
Massachusetts, to Mexico. but at no place In the
cultivation as, at GrisIeid The crab is, the
Beau Brummcl OF crustaceans. and indeed no
living creature gives so much attention to his
wearing apparel. Compared with him in this
regard the EXTREMIST dude leads d careless and
easy life. If he were member OF the human
family his tailor's bills would consume his en-
tire earnings.
through more frequent transformations than
probably any other member of the animal
somewhat like an impossible continuation Of
those omnipresent products OF New Jersey.
s Sn be the s 5 to bJpy wtR
nppondaaes., with, spine covered. oe-ike
tached to stalks. as In later life. but inxed fiat
upon the head, All these peculiarities are
stage he swims around mostly at the surface
At an early age he begins to shed his skin.
| and. having accomplished this feat few times.
| he has increased in size, his eyes have APP
peared on stalks. legs like those OF shrimps
to the pair Of front legs. The tail and pro-
boscis have nearly. if not entirely, disappeared.
nearly ready to begin business as a crab, he
| abandons swimming as profession and takes
to the lotion. goes foragGing along the shores
| literally grows by shedding.
| As fast rs his garments become too small for
| him he casts them on and appears in n larger
suit After he reaches the edible size he sheds
once month. and men who make a business
o, hunting him say there is no regular time for
ceases to shed. and indications, are not want
| ing that he reaches a ripe old age. as speci-
mems have been taken with fu-grown barna-
Giles and oysters attached to their shells. When
| a crab is about to shed he seeks shallow water
| and sccrctes himself in the roots Of the grasses
or under punches Of sedge 50 as to be ns much
are very fond OF him at this stage Of his career
A crab approaching tn" shedding process is
| variousy known among fishermen as a
""peeier.'' "sheider." "bustcr." Conner
long conner" or short conner" A peeer''
| or buster" Is one whose shell has begun to
| crack. while a Conner" Long conner" OF
short conner" is preparing to moult. and
the shell is loosening, but has not yet split
| 1t Is n matter OF considerable importance with
| the fishermen to be able to determine whether
| crab has or has not recently completed the
| shedding process. Unless the crustacean is
| taken in hand Immediately after moulting. II
quickly becomes a hard shell or hard crab
shell and "Ouckier." and as such not pos.
| sessing the market value OF a soft crab. or one
| that has not undergone mOulting.