Evening journal., 1916-02-19
CRARs ANp rmEIR cONsERYATION.

- OBSERVATION OF crab life in Delaware mas been
~ urged repeatedly by Daniel Burton. formerly Dep
uty Collector of Internal Revenue, and other prom-
Deawareans They have pointed out that every
year there is in this State shameful waste OF crab
life and that is doing great financial injury espec-
tally communities down the State which border
upon the leading crab-producing waters.
The trouble is being experienced in Virginia
That is disclosed by the following editorial from the
Norfolk Vrginian-Pilot:
Opponents Of proposed legislation looking to better
conservation Of Vrgnias grabbing industry are point
ing the recent report of the United states Bureau OF
Fisheries. showing that larger quantity OF the crusu-
ceans was caught in 1915 than ever before as sustain
ing their contention that additional protection Is
needed. The Virginia Citizen, whose editor Is W. NC
Donald Lee, former Commissioner OF Fsheries, ana ana
who is probably competent TO speak on the suDect
any in the state. is convinced that the conui
tions actually obtaining are not such as the hku9 VI
the Washington bureau would their face, Indicate
Comparing the report with that OF lsOs When
the next to the latest statistics gathered II Is
pointed that while the gap OF seven years between
the two shows slight increase in crabs marketed
from Virginia waters. improved appliances lot
catching the willy crustacean used ana thal 10
these improved appliances rather than to more
abundant supply Of crabs is due the increased cach
I'VE are convinced" says the Citizen "that between
1908 and 1912 there was the greatest abundance OF so
crabs while the hard crabs were Comparatively
fewer in number than now To-Day we see 'le SUI soil
crab business fearfuly dwinded whereas tne Ina.uls
crab end of il has greatly increased in catch Ihls OF
itself would argue that the catching of the small marc
crab and the gravid mother was fast depicting lhe
outpnt of Young soft crabs The present spurt In the
catch OF hard crabs may in the opinion OF the Vuzen
last for two or three years but II means gulcke' anu
ultimate depletion. so great is the number OF peo-
pie now engaged i'm the grabbing industry and so en-
cient is the apparatus that something must be done TO
ward of total destruction
The measures TO that end recommended by the Com
mission Of Fisheries and TO which the General Assem-
bly, is asked TO give the force and effect of law look
TO protection of the egg-bearing mother by providing
closed for the sponge crab, and of the small
hard by requiring that all such crabs under hVe
inches tip Of spike to tip Of spike be thrown
/ hack IN he wafp moderate
and reasonable that ordinary foresight would suggest
their adoption even though conditions were not suoh
as TO emphasize their necessity In the protection OF
the sponge crab the egg-bearing mother particularly
during the spawning season, obviously Hes the only
certain guarantee Of continued aud abundant source
Of supply while IL must be equally manifest that tne
more young crabs caught and destroyed, the small
er is bound to be the number left to grow to really
marketable size More than that, the sponge crab
during the spawning season is always more or less
poor and of comparatively small value for CONNER
cal purposes; while II goes without saying that the
young crabs II left TO become big will produce two
or three times much meat
and when they stop think realize these facts and
recognizing them, cannot fail TO realize that the tu
ture must be looked TO the industry IS to survive
and they themselves not to be- like Otheo, with
out occupation. In such circumstances Woulo
seem that the crabbers themselves, without Waluns
for the compelling force Of the law would refrain IRON
practices which, II persisted in, must eventually re
suit in putting them practically out of business But
unfortunately the crabber like the oysterman Is al
too prone place the cent of today above the uola
of tomorrow Hence the necessity for the State T.
stem in in the interest OF the general welfare an
protect those IN the industry against themselves b
protecting the industry. In establishing closed sea
son for the sponge crab and in enactng hVe-lnc
emil law applicable to all hard crabs, the General AS
semby would consult the best interests OF an ndustr
worth approximately a million dollars a year 10 IN
commonwealth and OF everybody directly concerne
in that industry.
What Is true OF Vlrginajs equally true OF Delaware
We have streams in this state which would produc
for market millions of crabs annually if the crab
were properly conserved against the so-called water
hogs whose sole idea is to destroy in the present an
who resent any suggestion looking to conservation TO
the future Properly conserved caught and marketed
crabs would add tens OF thousands OF dollars to on
wealth every year Such results cannot be looked fo
however from the present system which permits wan
ton destruction, violates the natural laws OF reproau'
on and gives to the crab scan opportunity to do wha
a should do in contributing to the wealth OF ou
state