Evening star., 1935-08-18
DRASTIC CRAbLAW
URGED AT PARLEY.
Shortage of Marketable
Crustaceans Brings Plea
for Conservation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
OCEAN CITY, Md, August IL
Drastic legislative proposals for con-
serving the crab supply in Chesa-
peake Bay were presented to the Tri-
State Sea Food Association Convention
today by Isaac H. Tawes Of Crisheld.
Tawes, legislative chairman of the
association, told the packers there Is
no shortage of inferior crabs in bay
waters. but that there Is a shortage
Of marketable ones.
He made the following recon-
mendations:
That the taking of sponge crabs
be prohibited at all times.
THAT the taking of buckram crabs
be prohibited at all times.
THAT the peeler crab be designated
as one having the new soft shell fully
formed under the outer shell, which
can easily be detected by the pink
sign.
That provisions be made for the
collection Of statistics and biological
data continuously throughout the
future years in order that the effect
of any new regulations may be known.
That State fish commissions be
empowered to change regulations, sub
ject to approval by their respective
Governors"
Quick Action Held Necessary.
The recommendations, Tawes as
serted, were sanctioned by Virginia
authorities. He was emphatic in his
statement that steps must be taken
at once to protect the blue crab in
dustry, in light Of figures quoted by
the Bureau of Fisheries showing an
alarming drop in production of the
crustaceans
After Matching. the young crabs
gradually migrate northward from
Virginia to Maryland waters, where
full maturity Is reached and mating
takes place. After mating, the female
crabs migrate to the lower portions
OF the bay for spawning, while the
male crabs usually remain in Mary
land waters.
From this . - it would appear the
supply OF crabs in Maryland is de-
pendent upon the stock in Virginia
waters, while the supply in the latter
State Is closely associated with the
stock in Maryland waters.
In view of this interdependent sit
uation. 1t is important that complete
cooperation should exist between
these two States in regard to the pro-
lection and conservation Of their crab
resources"
Legislative History Recounted.
raves pointed out the volume of
CRABS produced in Maryland in 1920
was less than half of that for 1904.
This decrease was due to the taking
OF large quantities of sponge-bear-
ing crabs, principally from Virginia
waters, he asserted The legislature
OF that State in 1926 made the catch
ing OF sponge-bearing crabs illegal
at any time.
Maryland already had a similar
law. he said, and an increase in
production was Immediately noted
Later, however, the balance shifted.
an inadequate supply became an ap-
poiehI oVerdounoance, and prices
went into a sharp decline.
The Virginia Legislature, as a re-
suit, repealed the protective legisla-
tion and enacted laws permitting the
taking of sponge crabs at any time
between April 1 and June 80, inclu-
slve. A drop Of more than 100000
pounds has resulted in this States
crab production between 1880 and
1888 as a result. he asserted
Full cooperation should be given
to Virginia in an effort to have her
re-enact the law protecting the sponge
crab and at the same time certain
protective legislation should be en-
acted in Maryland to protect the fe.
male crab when migrating to Virginia
during the Fall months Tawes ad-
vised his audience,