Evening journal., 1916-08-03
maryland CRAB IS
FAR FR I'M DOOMED
That is, if the Enforcement
Of Protective Law
Continues
LICENSE ACT
IS REAL THING

BALTIMORE. Md. Aug. g. - The
Conservation Commission has re-
ceived from Crssfield the glad tidings
that there had been six convictions
under the act of the last Legislature
requiring all persons engaged In tax
ing crabs TO take out licenses. The
law applies to Somerset county only
and IS one Of the severe measures de-
signed to save the Maryland crab
from extinction The commission Is
convinced that II the enforcement OF
the law continues the crab is not
doomed.
The commission has also been ad-
vised thai there have been two con-
victions in Somerset under the law
in case in which clans under one and
a half inches in length we're found.
One Of the tasks which the Conser-
vaton Commission has set for itseif
is the protection OF Maryland crabs
from The fate which has overtaken
terrapin and which may threaten the
Chesapeake oysters.
With this protective idea In view
the commission has sought concurrent
legislation with Virginia. The United
States Fisheries Bureau In Washing
ton has despatched Mr. Churchill. a
graduate Of Johns Hopkins Univer-
sitv. to the Lower Chesapeake TO
study the crab with q view TO suB-
pesting concurrent legislation be-
tween Maryland and Virginia looking
10 the protection OF crabs. II is pos
siblo. on the theory that the crabs
like fish, are migratory an1 hence
subject TO interstate legislation. the
Federal Government may step in and
enact laws 20 save them from de-
struction. Congress passed laws to
protect wild duck and other BIRDS
which we're rapidly disappearing. As
the oyster cannot get away from its
habitat T. cannot be reached by Fed
eral laws.
In a recent report Swepson Earle,
engineer to the Conservation Com
MISSION and father OF the conserva-
ton measures now in force in Mary
land. enlled attention 10 the rapid ex-
Hence the enactment OF the protec-
tive laws which now apply TO Somer-
set county. but which will be ex-
tended 10 other counties by the next
legislature
According to Mr. Earle, no less
than 10000 600 hard crabs and Co.
oo0.O 600 soft crabs are taken from the
Chesapeake and it's tributaries an
nually The industry, he says, gives
employment 10 more than 5000 peo
pio. who either devote their time tC
catching crabs or work in one or the
other Of the l25 canning and packing
establishments now in operation In
the state Mr.. Earle cites Govern
ment statistics TO prove that tho crab
hing industry has Increased enorm-
ously ia recent years. when the total
soft she'll catch amounted TO 1890
7s6 and the hard shell catch 70 2s.-
474379.
The blue crab lthe crab which in
habits the waters Of the Chesa-
peakol." says Mr.. Earle. lis not an
ocean crab. hut inhahits inland wa
fers tho Chesapeake Bay. iis tr'hu
tarics and the sounds. The female
crab. so our best authority inform
us. sDawns but once in the course OF
her existence. and this takes place
vhen she has reached a certain de
reiormsnt Tho female Is capable
of producing 0Oo.O00 Young. ans
thoss lt'ie ones hang on 70 the
mother until she thinks il time fo
them 20 shift for themselves. thea ali
,rnbs fhcm or on the sand Tho cra'
e. this stage Is known as a spong
bearer The General Assembly o
Virginia has passed . law to protec
the female al this stage Of propaga
flon