Evening star., 1921-07-24

t-HE crab comes into the neWs,
+ and the United States and the
l. crab states mean to save the
race that Callinectes sapidus,
which Is classic language for hard
| shelled dainty" that it may continue
| to serve mankind in its tasty and
delicious way. 1t is said that after
! twenty years of parleying the gov
eminent has got together with rep
resentatives of the states of Mary
land and Virginia in a legislative
plan to prevent the crab from becom-
ing extinct, and concurrent iegisla-
tion will place rigid restrictions on
Grabbing
II Is not necessary to introduce the
crab to an American audience. but
there are some points about the
species which all persons. though they
have a strong liking for crabs, have
not grasped. The popular crab of
the Atlantic coast is generally called
the "blue crab" from the fact that
considerable blue color is usually
found on its upper surface. especially
on its caws. In the Chesapeake bay
regions. where it forms the basis Of
an extensive industry. II Is referred
to simply as "the crab" other species
Of crabs having some common distinc-
tive name. as the "nddler," sea
spider" etc.
The blue crab has it's bioErapher. E.
P. Churchill, jrr, assistant. United
States bureau Of fisheries. The blue
crab is found on the Atlantic coast
from Massachusetts, bay to at least
as far south as the northern part of
South America. and in the United
setts to the southern extremity of
Texas. Although found at most
points alon gthe coast. 1t is sspe-
cially abundant in the bays and the
mouths OF the rivers. 1t is found In
| the summer. in relatively shallow wa
ter. but at greater depths in winter
| because it goes deep in search OF
warmth. Although it's natural home
10 salt water, the crab has been found
, in "brackish" water, and crab deal
er at Hampton, Va, has informed
representative Of the fisheries bureau
that he found many crabs in Back
bay. Va. the water there being fresh
enough to drink.
The adult crabs tend to remain In
deep water, but the young come in
shore to point where the water is
only a few inches deep The blue
crab ID especially abundantt IN Snesa-
I peake bay. this body OF water being
Of sufficient size to afford a breed
ing place for Immense numbers. The
young are very abundant IN the re-
eion extending from Tangter Island
Va, to Baltimore, the bottoms unoer-
lying the shallow waters OF tnif
| part Of the bay forming. during the
summer a ground especially suited 20
the growth and moiting OF maturing
\ crabs. In the deeper waters In tne
southern part of the bay the aoui'
crabs lie on the bottom in vast mum
bers throughout the winter months.
The young OF the crab are hatched
| from eggs that are not as large as the
period al the close of this sentence
/ When first laid the eggs are yellow or
1 orange In color due to the color OF
1.-THE yoIk granules within them
| which serve as food for the young as
| development. proceeds. AS the eggs
near hatching this color disappears
and since the eyes Of the young are
comparatively large and Of very dark
color the mass OF eggs appears Al
most black. A. the eggs come from
the body Of the female they become
aftaehed to the fine hairs OF the
"swimmerets" on the under side OF
the abdomen. Microscopic examina-
| tion OF these hairs, when they are
bearing eggs, shows that each hair
IL covered throughout almost Its fuil
| length with O thin coating OF semi-
| transparent material of family vel.
low color. Each ,egg is attached 10
this covering BY q separate short
| tendril Of the. same material. the hair
AAnd itA burden RESEMBLING P long thin