. The popular natural history . Zoology. SWIMMING CRABS. 56S shown in one illustration, while in the other the Spider-crab is shown de- nuded of these appendages. The large family of the Canceridae now comes before us, and is famiharly known through the medium of the common Edible Crab. This is a very common species, being plentiful around our rocky coasts, and generally remaining in the zone just under low-water mark. The fish«r- men catch it in various ways ; but the most usual method, and that by which the greatest number of these crustaceans are captured, is by means of certain baskets, ca
. The popular natural history . Zoology. SWIMMING CRABS. 56S shown in one illustration, while in the other the Spider-crab is shown de- nuded of these appendages. The large family of the Canceridae now comes before us, and is famiharly known through the medium of the common Edible Crab. This is a very common species, being plentiful around our rocky coasts, and generally remaining in the zone just under low-water mark. The fish«r- men catch it in various ways ; but the most usual method, and that by which the greatest number of these crustaceans are captured, is by means of certain baskets, called crab-pots, cruives, or creels, according to the locality. These baskets are round, and in shape something like a flattened apple, and have an aperture at the top through which the crab gains access to the interior. When once within the basket it cannot escape, because the opening is. GREEN CRAB,— (Carcinus mcsnas.) guarded by an inverted cone of osiers, like the entrance to a common wire mouse-trap, so that the elastic sticks yield to the expected prey while passing downwards, but effectually prevent all upward movement. Supphed with a number of these creels, a corresponding amount of rope, floats, stones, and bait, the fisherman rows towards the best grounds, which are always where the bed of the sea is rocky, and the depth from three to twenty fathoms. The bait, consisting of haddock, skate, and other fish, is placed in the basket, together with a few stones which serve to sink it, a line is attached, and the creel lowered out of the boat. A buoy is attached to the line and marked with the owner's name, so as to avoid mistakes as to the proprietorship of the creel. The fisherman then rows to a httle distance, and sinks another baited creel, taking the precaution to place them so far asunder that the lines cannot be entangled in each other. Boys often employ their idle afternoons in crab-hunting, always going among the rocks at low-water, and looking out for those rock
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
