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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-18 22:10:25 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-18 22:10:25 -0800 |
| commit | 1d2c89ed72c1f95544aac541240f6c3e852a46e2 (patch) | |
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diff --git a/77735-h/77735-h.htm b/77735-h/77735-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d729e5e --- /dev/null +++ b/77735-h/77735-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4496 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Crab, shrimp, and lobster lore | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +ul.index { list-style-type: none; } +li.ifrst { + margin-top: 1em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; + font-weight: bold; +} +li.indx { + margin-top: .5em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} +li.isub1 { + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 2em; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + +figcaption {font-weight: normal;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} +.x-ebookmaker .figleft {float: left;} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} +.x-ebookmaker .figright {float: right;} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.ph1 { + text-align: center; + font-size: xx-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.ph2 { + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.transnote { + margin-left:17.5%; + margin-right:17.5%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .ep4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +li { margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom:0; line-height: 1.2em; } + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp40 {width: 40%;} +.illowp50 {width: 50%;} +.illowp70 {width: 70%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp50 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77735 ***</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</span></p> + + +<h1> +CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE. +</h1> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii"></a><a id="Page_iii"></a><a id="Page_iv"></a>[Pg iv]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_f004" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f004.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>A PARTY OF “OU-OU” HUNTERS.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> + + +<p class="ph1">CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE,</p> + +<p class="ph2 p2" style="line-height: 1.5em;"><i>GATHERED AMONGST THE ROCKS<br> +AT THE SEA-SHORE,<br> +BY THE RIVERSIDE, AND IN THE FOREST</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center p4" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="smcap">By</span> W. B. LORD, R.A.</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: small;">AUTHOR OF “SEA-FISH, AND HOW TO CATCH THEM,” “THE SILK WORM BOOK.”<br> +ETC. ETC.</p> + + +<p class="center p6"><span style="font-size: x-large;">LONDON:<br> +GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS,</span><br> +<span style="font-size: large;">THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE.<br> +1867.</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></p> + + +<p class="center ep4" style="font-size: small;">LONDON:<br> +R. CLAY, SON, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS,<br> +BREAD STREET HILL.</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE. + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>What say you to a ramble among the fairy rock +pools, weed-covered ledges, and gem-decked parterres +bordering the gardens of the sea? Where +ocean plants and flowrets of a thousand hues and +tints wave their trailing tendrils, and unfold their +feathery fronds, in the crystal waters, and to an +expedition to far-off lands and tropic islands +raised from the sea’s depths by the mighty +labours of the tiny coral insect; where the tough +roots of the graceful, fern-like palms, are ever +bathed by the snow-white foam, and where the +fresh sea breeze, sings merrily through the grove, +to the deep-toned thunder of the surf as it breaks +on the wide-stretching reef, and is scattered in +a rainbow shower far within the still lagunes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span>beyond its rampart-like borders. We do not +journey thus far to gather gold, gems, or pearls, +neither is our object warlike, although we purpose +visiting the mailed hosts in and about +their strongholds, and investigating the economy +of the submarine armour-clads, in their own harbours. +Should the adventure be to your taste, +we will, together, explore the keeps, caverns, and +points of vantage in which some of these sea +champions reside, inspect the armories with +which they are furnished, and note the nature and +quality of their equipment. As man makes war on +his fellow-man, and devises not only weapons of +offence and destruction, but shields and defensive +armour wherewith to protect himself, so nature—from +whom many of the most perfect examples of +both have been borrowed by the human race—furnishes +to the swordfish, the long and sharp rapier, +with which he deals out death to the huge, and +mighty whale; the beautifully barbed spear to the +<i>sting ray</i>, and the dagger-like spines which arm +so many of the freebooters of the sea: the massive +mail of the turtle; the castles of exquisite design +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span>in which the shell-bearing molluscs dwell, and +the armour of proof possessed by the crustaceæ, +are all fashioned by the same skilled hand; and +so marvellously perfect and admirable are their +adaptation to the purposes for which they are +intended, that man, with all his boasted intelligence, +can only wonder, admire, and endeavour +to imitate.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_x"></a><a id="Page_xi"></a>[Pg xi]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<th class="tdl"> +</th> +<th class="tdr"> +PAGE +</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +CRABS +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_1">1</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_73">73</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +LOBSTERS +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_90">90</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +RIVER CRAYFISH +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_106">106</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xii"></a><a id="Page_xiii"></a>[Pg xiii]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + </h2> + + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<th class="tdl"> +</th> +<th class="tdr"> +PAGE +</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +A PARTY OF “OU-OU” HUNTERS +</td> +<td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 2em;"> +<i><a href="#i_f004">Frontispiece.</a></i> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“CANCER,” A SIGN OF THE ZODIAC +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p001">1</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +A CRAB IN TESSELATED PAVEMENT +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p002">2</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“BABY CRABS,” OR ZOËA +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p004">4</a>, <a href="#i_p005">5</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +LARGE EDIBLE CRAB (<i>Cancer pagurus</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p008">8</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +CRAB POT +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p009">9</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +A “BECUED CREEPER” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p011">11</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +FISH-HOOK FASTENINGS +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p012">12</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +LOOP SLIP +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p013_1">13</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +STONE HITCH +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p013_2">13</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +FRAME REEL +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p015">15</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +GUT KNOT +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p016">16</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +KNIFE TWISTER +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p017">17</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +FISHING LEADS +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p020">20</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +TRAVELLER LINE +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p021">21</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +HARBOUR CRAB (<i>Carcinus maenas</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p028">28</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +VELVET SWIMMING CRAB (<i>Portunus puber</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p030">30</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +COMMON SLENDER SPIDER CRAB (<i>Stenorynchus tenuirostris</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p033">33</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +<i>Pagurus Bernhardus</i> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p034">34</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +VENUS’S FLOWER-BASKET (<i>Euplectella speciosa</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p036">36</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +COMMON PEA CRAB (<i>Pinnotheres pisum</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p042">42</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</span>PINNA PEA CRAB (<i>P. veterum</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p043">43</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +THE “OU-OU,” OR COCOA-NUT CRAB (<i>Birgus latro</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p046">46</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +THE EUROPEAN LAND CRAB (<i>Thelphusa fluviatilis</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p056">56</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +COMMON SAND SHRIMP (<i>Crangon vulgaris</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p074">74</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +THE DREDGE +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p075">75</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +SAND SHRIMP NET +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p076">76</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +POLE SHRIMP NET +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p078">78</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +PRAWN NET +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p080">80</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +COMMON PRAWN AND PARASITE +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p086">86</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +THE COMMON ENGLISH LOBSTER (<i>Homarus vulgaris</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p090">90</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +LOBSTER TRAP +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p091">91</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +HATCHING TROUGH (French) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p092">92</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +PAN AND TUB ARRANGEMENT +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p093">93</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +NORWAY LOBSTER (<i>Nephrops Norvegicus</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p095">95</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +SPINED LOBSTER, OR CRAY (<i>Palinurus vulgaris</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p100">100</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +THE COMMON RIVER CRAY (<i>Astacus fluviatilis</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_p106">106</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="INTRODUCTION"> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The crustaceans, to whose homes we propose bending +our steps, have some strange and note-worthy peculiarities +of form, structure, and habits. Instead of, +like ordinary creatures, having skeletons <i>in them</i>, on +which their tissues are disposed (much as fashionable +milliners arrange the captivating raiment of the fair), +they, in an apparently perverse and independent spirit, +adopt a custom of their own, which to us would, to +say the very least of it, prove most uncomfortable and +inconvenient, and wear their skeletons <i>outside</i> instead +of <i>in</i>; and although fashions do not (so far as our +experience has gone) change in the realms of King +Neptune, and no startling announcement meets the +eager eye of Mrs. Crab, or the charming Misses Lobster, +that a sweet new thing in skeletons has just arrived +at the emporium of Sponge, Limpet, and Co. Limited, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</span>no crustacean lady or gentleman ever thinks of being +content with one, for the term of her or his natural +life; but as the external coverings become worn, and +feel uncomfortably circumscribed, a restlessness, and +yearning for variety is felt; and, like Professor Owen, +their longings are for <i>a new skeleton</i>, and, like that +gifted anatomist, rest not, until one is obtained. Unlike +the page who, in a complete suit of armour, accompanied +his noble master to the Holy Wars, and, as the +legend goes, returned after years of absence, a dwarf, +from having nothing else to wear, our friends are more +prolific in expedient, as will be seen by those who +investigate.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + <p class="ph1"> + CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE. + </p> + + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CRABS"> + CRABS. + </h2> +</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p001" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p001.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>From the very earliest periods of the world’s history +the family of Crab appears to have been well known +and much respected, and the Zodiac would be incomplete +without its “<i>Cancer</i>.” The picture from which +the accompanying illustration is taken was drawn +by an artist of the thirteenth century, and appears as +an embellishment in a Prayer-book which afterwards +became the property of Queen Mary, and is now in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>the British Museum. It serves to show the idea +entertained in this country of that particular sign at +the period referred to. Those remarkably odd fellows +the early Romans, even in their time, were not the sort +of folks to overlook or heedlessly pass by the merits of +so distinguished a gentleman as Mr. Cancer. He was +well known and highly appreciated in the Seven-hilled +City long before Art, except as brought to bear on the +delineation of rude and uncouth patterns on the skins +of the inhabitants, was known in this country. But +when the restless Roman gentry, before referred to, +cast their lot on a distant shore, and settled in the +savage British Isles, they bore with them memories not +to be effaced or treated lightly. Tesselated pavements +in Cancer’s honour were elaborately wrought, and carefully +laid down by them in the villas they here built +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>for themselves. The accompanying illustration represents +a portion of one of these pavements discovered at +Cirencester in the year 1783.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p002" style="max-width: 12em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p002.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> A Roman oyster-knife was found buried not far from the +site of one of these ancient villas.</p></div> + +<p>A great deal of this esteem, it is to be feared, somewhat +resembled the great affection professed by a +chief of the Feejee Islands for a very good-looking +little midshipman of one of Her Majesty’s ships cruising +among those fertile but questionable retreats. “I love +him very much,” said the dusky potentate, “because +he is so plump, and would make such a delicious roast +with palm-top stuffing.” Apicius loved Crab because +he was good in many ways. Hear what he says of +Crab sausages: “Boil some of these animals, reduce +them to a pulp; mix with this some spikenard, garum, +pepper, and eggs; give to this the ordinary shape of +sausages, place them on a stove or gridiron; and you +will by this means obtain a delicate and tempting +dish.” He also informs us that a Crab may be served +whole, boiled, and accompanied by a seasoning of +pepper, cummin, and rue, which the cook skilfully +mixes with garum, honey, oil, and vinegar. Later on +in history we find our friend Cancer depicted in heraldic +devices, and among the armorial bearings of many +influential families. So we see that his lineage is an +ancient one. The family to which he belongs is extremely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>numerous, and it is with the peculiarities of +some of its members that we shall now have to deal.</p> + +<figure class="figleft illowp40" id="i_p004" style="max-width: 12em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p004.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Among all the curious and quaint forms of animal +life to be found in the sea, few for grotesque oddity +can equal the baby Crabs, or <i>Zoëa</i>, as they are sometimes +called. These interesting infants are not the +least like their papa or mamma, and no respectable or +fully-matured male or female Crab would ever own +them as his or her offspring. An elfish little creature +is the juvenile Crab, with +a head scarcely deserving +the name, and a pair of +goggle bulls’-eyes as of two +policemen’s lanterns rolled +into one; a tail vastly too +long for him, and an anti-garotte +spear, quite as long +as his absurd little body, +attached to the spot where +his coat-collar should be. The annexed illustrations +will serve to give some idea of these prepossessing +juveniles. They are the portraits of two little cousins. +In this case, age, although it alters appearances, +affects disposition but little, and, as you turn over +some stone, fragment of wreck, or tuft of weed, +in search of curiosities, young Master Crab will, +in all probability, be found at home, and, like an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>enraged dentist, ready to do fierce battle against all +intruders with his upraised pincers. This is the ill-disposed +young gentleman who sends <i>Lotty</i> or <i>Totty</i>, +with heartrending screams and pinched pettitoes, in +wild dismay from the charming shell-floored pool, in +which they have been paddling. Master Crab’s internal +economy is just as curious as his external skeleton. +One pair of jaws one would be disposed to think +sufficient for any living creature of reasonable requirements; +but he possesses eight, and, instead of exposing +his teeth to the examination of the critical in matters +of dentition, he carries them safely stowed away in the +interior of his stomach, where they would be excessively +hard to get at in cases of crustacean tooth-ache. +With such appliances as these, the food cannot well +be otherwise than perfectly masticated. A Crab’s +liver is an odd organ to contemplate, and constitutes +a considerable portion of the soft interior of the shell-like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>box in which the heart and other viscera are +lodged. That well-known yellow delicacy known as +the <i>cream</i> or <i>fat</i> of the Crab is <i>liver</i>, and nothing else. +The lungs or gills are formed by those fringe-like +appendages popularly known as the <i>dead men’s fingers</i>. +The shell-shifting process before referred to, is common +to all crustaceans; and our friend the Crab, when he +feels his corselet getting rather tight for him, manages, +by some extraordinary process, not only to extricate +himself from it, together with his shell gauntlets and +the powerful nippers with which he is provided, but +performs other feats, compared with which those of +the Davenport Brothers sink into utter insignificance; +and we opine that, had those eminent spiritualists been +called on to do by the aid of all their shadowy accomplices +one half of that which Cancer and his cousins the +lobsters and crays do unassisted, no Tom Fool’s knot +would have been needed to complete their discomfiture. +Not only are the too-constricted shell and claw coverings +cast aside, but also the outer cornea of the eyes; +the stem sheath of the eyes; the lining of the stomach +with the internal teeth; the internal bones of the +thorax; the lining membrane of the ear, and that covering +the lungs; thus very nearly turning themselves inside +out, as well as getting rid of their old suits of clothes. +But all these wonderful operations are not performed +with the ease with which the chrysalis sets free the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>painted butterfly, or the village maid, by touch of fairy +wand, throws off her homely garb, and steps forth the +gauzy glittering columbine in the transformation scene +of a pantomime; but are works of time and trouble, +the body appearing to dilate within its prison until the +coffer-like cover formed by the shell slowly and by +degrees gives way, the membranes one by one are torn +asunder, the muscular tissue filling up the large claws +and pincers undergoes a softening process which admits +of its being drawn through the constrictions between +the joints, and the crustacean and his old garments +part company at last.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p005" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p005.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Between the loss of the old shell and the secretion +of a new one, nothing can be more unenviable than +the position occupied by our poor forlorn friend, who, +like some fashionable exquisite during a temporary +misunderstanding with his tailor, seeks retirement and +obscurity. The pert young crablings, inquisitive, +troublesome little <i>gobies</i>, and irritating prawns, who a +short time since treated him with due respect, now pinch +his unprotected skin and nibble at his poor defenceless +tail in a manner not to be endured; so he shuns +society, goes into dock for repairs, and waits for fresh +<i>sheathing</i> and his new pincers to grow. These under +favourable circumstances soon form, and “Richard is +himself again.” It is our opinion that these moultings +or changes do not, as some authors have stated, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>take place at regular and stated intervals in the lives +of the larger crustacea, as rapidity of growth in particular +individuals would tend to accelerate the period +for change, and it appears probable, from the number +and size of the marine molluscæ constantly found +adhering to the shells of fully-matured specimens +(oysters of even six years’ growth having been so discovered), +that the changes of shell become less frequent +as age advances.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p008" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p008.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p009" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p009.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The most important member of the Crab family, in +a commercial and gustatory point of view, found in +this country, is the large edible Crab of the shops, +<i>Cancer pagurus</i>, the subject of the annexed illustration; +and its capture not only gives employment to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>an immense number of families along the sea-board +of England and its home dependencies, but forms an +admirable school for the training of the hardy mariners +so much needed for both our navy and mercantile +marine. The professional <i>crabber</i> is usually an expert +boatman, and line, or rather <i>hook</i>-fisher, in addition to +his crab-catching powers. There are several methods +by which Crabs can be taken, but that usually resorted +to for the capture of the kind now under consideration +is by <i>crab pots</i>, or baskets, woven of +unbarked willows.⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> These are contrived much on +the principles of the common wire mousetrap, a number +of points being arranged in funnel form at the +entrance, so as to admit of free ingress, but rendering +exit quite a different affair, and one by no means +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>easy of accomplishment. The eel-basket, the salmon-<i>trip</i>, +and many other fish traps are made in much the +same manner, with some modifications as to material +and size. Pieces of fish and fish offal are usually used +as bait for these contrivances. This is secured within +the basket, which, with a heavy stone as a sinker, +and a long line with a float attached to it, is +lowered down from the boat amongst sunken rocks +and in the deep gulfs between reefs, where ledge, +crevice, and secret cranny are known to afford hiding-places +to the sought-for prey; and here the traps are +allowed to rest, sometimes for the night, at others a +shorter period, just as convenience or the probability +of a take may suggest, when, the float being found and +the line hauled in, the pot with its contents are soon +safely on board the boat. Where many persons engage +in the same occupation, it is necessary, in order to +avoid mistakes as to the identity of the traps, to have +certain distinguishing marks by which they may be +known. Each fisherman, therefore, has his own pattern +for the float—one using a single piece of circular form, +another, a single square, whilst a third either piles +several pieces in conical form, or cuts a peculiarly-formed +cross. A plan we strongly recommend to those +who wish to amuse themselves by catching Crabs for +their own use, is to use a large flat bung, made of +stout cork, nail a piece of strong tough wood, such as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>elm, to the under surface, in order to prevent splitting, +burn a hole with a hot iron large enough for the float +line to pass through, tie a knot or work a Turk’s head +on the end of the line, paint the upper surface of the +cork white, and then burn your initials deeply into the +cork with a branding iron. The crabbers as a body are +rarely dishonest, but little mistakes are at times made +when crab-pots are insufficiently marked by the owner, +and Crabs at a premium; still there are very few so +utterly indifferent to the voice of public reprobation as +to “<i>haul another man’s pots</i>,” a crime in the eyes of a +fishing community pretty much on a par with stealing +a sheep or robbing a church. Should you embark in +the crabbing line, take our earnest +advice: provide yourself with +a boat with plenty of beam; +have every rope, net, and line you +use tanned; and never let your +boat’s <i>creeper</i>, or “killick,” go on +rocky ground without making use +of the precaution shown in the accompanying +illustration, known as +“Becueing,” or the loss of creeper +and <i>creeper</i> line into the bargain +will be very likely to follow.</p> + +<figure class="figright illowp40" id="i_p011" style="max-width: 10em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p011.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> Galvanized iron wire has been much advocated as a material +for their construction.</p></div> + +<p>It will be seen, on referring to the above cut, that +the line after having been secured to the ring at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>head of the creeper shank, as at <span class="allsmcap">A</span>, is brought down +and passed under one of the claws as at <span class="allsmcap">B</span>. It is again +brought up until it meets the ring, to which it is +secured with a piece of common twine doubled, or a +bit of single spun yarn, as at <span class="allsmcap">C</span>. It will be at once +seen that, on either of the claws becoming fixed in a +rock or under a ledge (a matter of constant occurrence +when fishing from a moored boat), by pulling heavily +on the line the twine or yarn <i>stopper</i> gives way, and +the creeper becomes immediately free by being capsized, +and can then be readily hauled in.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p012" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p012.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>To safely bring a large fish to basket after it is +hooked requires skill, patience, and proper appliances. +Hooks and their attachments to the traces should be +well looked to before commencing operations. There +are two modes of fastening on fish-hooks. One, as in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>the foregoing cut <span class="allsmcap">A</span>, is with well-waxed silk or thread, +binding the hook-wire and trace firmly and neatly +together, and then finishing off by passing the end of +the lashing back under three or four turns of itself, +<i>vide cut</i> <span class="allsmcap">B</span>, and then drawing it tightly home. The +other plan is by <i>half hitches</i>, two or three of which are +turned over the shaft of the hook below the flattened +end usually made to sea-hooks; when drawn tight the +turns of line may be pressed up compactly together with +the thumb nail. The accompanying cut <span class="allsmcap">C</span> will better +explain the mode of putting on the hitches than would +any written description. Both traces and lines should +have loops made in the ends; these, when run together +by what is called <i>the loop slip</i>, shown in the +above illustration, make a very neat and secure +fastening. Stones are conveniently fastened on as +sinkers to lines mounted with many hooks; by the +plan shown in the above cut, no knots are made, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>when the stone is removed the loop falls out and leaves +the line as before its attachment. Large powerful fish +should never be lifted into the boat by the tackle. A +wide, short-handled landing-net, and <i>gaff</i>, made from a +large-sized fish-hook, lashed to a staff, form an essential +part of the equipment.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p013_1" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p013_01.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p013_2" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p013_02.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The owners of yachts, and families residing near the +sea, will find a few crab-pots, which can be made at a +very trifling cost, a valuable acquisition, as not only +crabs, but lobsters, cray-fish, and prawns are readily +taken in them. Sea fishing-tackle will be found very +useful, as after having baited and laid down the <i>pots</i> a +number of fish may be very often caught. These will +be found acceptable as an addition to the daily bill of +fare, and such as are of inferior quality make excellent +crab-bait. It is not our intention to enter at any +length on a description of sea-fishing gear; still there +are certain hints and expedients relating to it which +may not prove unacceptable to the reader. Lines vary +much in substance and length with the description of +fish it is intended to capture, cod, conger eels, hake, +&c., requiring them of considerable strength and power; +but it will be found, as a rule, that the lines used by +the regular fishermen of our coasts are much stouter +than is necessary, and it may be depended on that the +finer the tackle is, consistent with the requisite strength +to hold the fish when hooked, the more successful will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>be the result of its use. It is very seldom indeed that +a <i>line</i> is broken by a fish, unless from some flaw +or imperfection, the trace on which the hook is tied +being far more frequently the point of breakage. +Strong silk-worm gut, either single or twisted, is much +to be preferred to the hemp snoodings in common use +for all traces but those used in the taking of the very +largest descriptions of sea-fish. The <i>round plait</i> prepared +salmon line, sold by all fishing-tackle makers, +answers admirably for a general sea-line. The length +may be proportioned to the depth of the water it is +intended to fish, but about thirty yards is a convenient +quantity to deal with. This should, for hand-line +fishing, be kept wound on a <i>frame reel</i>. One of these +is easily made as follows:—Two flat pieces of tough +strong wood, such as oak or ash, about a foot long, an +inch and a half wide, and a quarter of an inch thick, +are to be prepared; at each end of these, at about two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>inches from the extremity, a round hole is to be either +bored, or burnt with a hot iron. Two round wooden +bars of about ten inches in length, and the size of an +ordinary walking-stick, are now to be prepared, cutting +each end to fit the holes in the flat bars, so that they +may pass through them, and extend about two inches +beyond. A shoulder must be cut in each joint, in order +to prevent the bars from coming together; when put in +place they are secured with small pins or brads; but, +before fixing them, a round flat piece of cork is to be +run on each round bar to stick the points of the hooks +in; the cut on p. 15 shows the shape of the framework +and the reel complete. Reels of this description +are much to be preferred to the common kind, on +account of the free ventilation they afford the lines +when wound on them, and the freedom from entanglements +insured by the cork hook-holders. The traces +before referred to may be used of either single, double, +or triple strands. All gut before being knotted together +should be steeped for ten minutes or a quarter of an +hour in <i>warm</i>, not hot, water; the curled portions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>and ends are to be cut off, and the required number +of lengths selected as to stoutness. They can now be +attached to each other by the use of the gut knot, as +shown in the preceding cut. This, when drawn home +and the ends trimmed off, forms a very secure fastening. +To make a double or triple gut trace it will be necessary +to twist the strands constituting it. This can be +readily done by knotting the extreme ends together +and then placing them between the back spring and +blade of a common pocket-knife, as shown in the +annexed cut. The other ends are now taken by two +or three persons, according to +the number of strands to be +twisted, held between the finger +and thumb, and turned until a +spinning motion is communicated +to the knife hanging in +the middle, when the trace is +very quickly finished,—six +feet is a good length for general +purposes. All hook-lengths +and traces should be attached +to the main line by brass swivels. A short, stiff rod, +with stand-up rings, fitted with a large-sized Nottingham +reel, on which fifty or sixty yards of prepared line +has been wound, will be found useful for taking many +kinds of fish, and an extra joint or two adapts it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>for fishing from rocks or pier heads. When using +tackle of this description from a boat for the capture +of <i>small fish</i>, as pouting, chads, whiting, &c. are commonly +called, it will be found a good plan to employ a +foot trace of twisted gut, medium-sized trout-hooks +tied on strong single gut snoods; these may be looped +on at eighteen inches apart. The bottom of the trace +must be secured to one of the conical sinkers of +sufficient weight to keep the line straight down against +the run of the tide. Bait with <i>rag-worm</i>, and commence +fishing at about three feet from the bottom, +when, if the fish are not found feeding there, shallow +depths may be tried, or the ground itself just touched +with the lead, only taking care that a sufficient strain +exists just to slightly curve the top of the rod; on +feeling a bite, strike sharply, and when the fish is found +to be hooked, draw the line in with the right hand, +whilst the rod is upraised in the left, until the prize is +at the surface, when, unless very diminutive indeed, +the landing-net should be made use of,—more fish are +lost in weighing out than in any other way. Large +captives must be played until sufficiently passive to be +safely brought alongside and netted or gaffed.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p015" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p015.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p016" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p016.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="i_p017" style="max-width: 12em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p017.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Rod-fishing for mackerel bass, grey mullet, “<i>Atherene</i>” +or sand smelt, and several other descriptions, may, at +times, be practised with considerable success. We +have taken great numbers of the two former with both +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>bait and artificial fly. Mackerel fishing with the float-line +affords, at certain seasons, excellent sport. A +large cork float, four-foot trace of single salmon gut, +and one medium-sized Limerick trout-hook should be +used; three or four duck-shot will be found, with the +swivel, sufficient to keep the trace straight. Bait with +either pilchard gut, a strip cut from the tail of a +freshly-caught mackerel, or a long narrow ribbon of +cuttle; cap the float to about fourteen feet from the +hook and let the bait drift off with the tide. We have +repeatedly taken numbers of mackerel in this way +when hand-lines of the usual pattern were not visited +by a single fish. For grey mullet, live shrimps or pieces +of rag-worm will be found the best baits. Smelts are +taken by mounting a number of very small hooks, +No. 12 Kirby bend, on short pieces of very stiff gut +looped on to the main traces, at about six inches apart; +a light sinker should be made use of, and short junks +of rag-worm used as bait. Smelts much frequent +localities where fresh water flows into the sea. Lead +sinkers, of any weight between seven or eight pounds +and that of a buck-shot, can be cast between two +common Bath scouring bricks. Half the form of the +intended sinker is cut on each brick (after the surfaces +have been rendered smooth by rubbing them together) +with a common knife or chisel. The two halves, when +exactly matched, are tied together with tape and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>small inlet hole made, through which the molten lead +is poured from an iron ladle, tobacco-pipe, or iron +spoon; according to the quantity of metal required: +one brick is sufficient to cast simple forms in, +merely cutting out the shape and filling it up. All +sorts of articles in lead can be made in this way, +without any of the dangers which usually attend +casting in clay or damp mould. The two kinds of +fishing leads represented in the above cut can be +used for a great number of purposes, and are mounted +either single or double, as the strength of the under +current or run of the tide may render necessary, by +passing a few turns of fine packthread or spare +snooding through the holes at <span class="allsmcap">B</span>, and bringing the flat +surfaces of the leads in contact. A great number of +bass, codlings and other fish are, in many localities, to +be taken by laying out lines baited with whelk, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>hermit-crab, &c., to meet the coming tide as it flows +in over beaches or sand flats. A heavy lead is often +used as a means by which the line and baits are not +only kept at the bottom when they reach it, but is +turned after the manner of a sling round the head of +the fisherman, and then cast far out in the surf, to be +withdrawn and again thrown as the take of fish or renewal +of bait may render necessary. There are many +very great inconveniences attendant on this mode of +fishing, and it is far better to lay down a <i>traveller</i> when +the tide is out. This is done as follows:—Just before +the turn of the tide and the coming in of the young +flood, select the spot at which you intend trying your +fortunes, and then search out a large heavy stone as +your <i>traveller block</i>, and thus prepare it, with strong +twine or whipcord; take two or three turns round the +stone and securely fasten off with a knot; then attach +a common curtain ring or the link of an old chain. +Lay your <i>block</i> on the edge of the water, pass one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>end of your fishing-line through the ring, and walk +back with it some distance up the beach, allowing the +other end to be given off the reel until the spot at +which the first end was dropped is reached. The line +will now be doubled; one half has hooks on short +traces, as many as it is thought expedient to use, +mounted on it. The other half is free from hooks, in +order that it may run through the ring without entanglement. +A small piece of stick is knotted on the line +close to the first hook, so that it cannot be pulled through +the ring, as shown in the illustration on p. 21.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p020" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p020.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p021" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p021.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The arrangement is now complete and ready for +baiting. It will be seen that as one line is drawn in, +the other travels out towards the block, so that as the +fish are hooked they are brought to land, the hooks are +fresh baited, and the contrivance hauled out again +without the trouble of throwing the lead. As the tide +comes the fisherman walks back until he reaches high-water +mark.</p> + +<p>On some of our coasts a great number of Crabs are +taken with the <i>crab-hook</i>. This is a sharp strong +hook of tough iron, fastened to the end of a stout +wooden staff, or pole, and the best time to use it +is when the sea recedes during spring tides, and +makes what among fishermen, is called a “<i>great out</i>.” +At such times a great number of deep rock pools and +hollow ledges become accessible, which during ordinary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>tides are far beneath the waves, and now is the harvest +of the adventurous crab-hunter, who, hook in hand, +climbs and scrambles among the slippery stones and +weed-covered crags, to where narrow cleft and dark +recess give promise of Crab’s lurking-places, when with +a cautious probing motion, the curved instrument is +thrust onward along the hidden galleries beneath the +rock, until the practised hand detects the hoped-for impediment, +when with one sudden, dexterous, backward +stroke of his weapon he withdraws the retiring Cancer +from his snug retreat, and exposes him to the garish +light of day. Give him but one instant for reflection, +and up goes his back against the roof of his hole, when, +except by literally pulling him in pieces, extraction +is a sheer impossibility; and it is in consequence of this +exceedingly unaccommodating habit of his, that would-be +crab-catchers have been at times crab caught, and +their incautious groping hands held fast as though in +the vice of some sea Vulcan, until the flowing tide has +put an end to both their struggles and sufferings. The +tenacity of a crab’s grip is perfectly extraordinary and +all but incredible. A hold once taken is seldom let go, +and the battles which frequently take place among +these pugnacious gentry give ample scope for the exercise +of their tremendous nippers; and nature has most +wisely provided them with the power of throwing off +such limbs as may be either seized by the enemy or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>seriously injured; and should they chance to encounter +an antagonist from whom it appears wise to beat a +retreat, our friend firmly seizes him by the most tender +spot he can select, sets his pincers nipping and grinding +in the most excruciating manner, and then rapidly +detaching and leaving them in possession, darts off to +the first sanctuary within his reach. To most living +creatures the unceremonious sacrifice of limbs in this +way would lead to almost immediate loss of life from +hemorrhage, but a wise provision is also made for this +contingency. The division taking place at a constricted +portion of the joint of a limb admits of the +vessels drawing themselves in, and so stopping the +flow of blood. A thin membrane soon covers the +stump, and in due time another limb replaces that which +has been lost or cast away. In some localities the +haunts of the Crab are discovered by fastening pieces +of waste fish to the ends of short, strong lines, and +then, after attaching long stones by their middles to the +other ends, strewing them about among the rocks and +pools; at the ebbing of the tide, these tell-tale stones are +sought for as they rest outside and across the dwelling-places +of the Crabs, which when found are not only +“made a note of,” but the tenants either by hook or +crook brought to light with little ceremony.</p> + +<p>Some little judgment is required to select a thoroughly +good Crab for the table, and as the choice usually lays +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>amongst dead specimens, a few hints on the subject +will not perhaps prove unacceptable. A male Crab is +generally to be preferred to a female, on account of the +larger development of claw, &c. The sexes may +readily be distinguished by examining the flat, peak-shaped, +flap-like tail, which will be found curled beneath +the under-surfaces of the body. This in the +male is narrow, whilst in the female it is wide and of +different form. A good Crab should feel heavy in the +hand, and on being sharply shaken no sound or movement +of fluid heard. The large nippers should at +the same time remain tucked tightly up, and not +hang loosely from the body. The absence of freshness +is a defect too obvious and important to need +comment.</p> + +<p>The proper mode of boiling Crabs has long been a +subject on which <i>doctors have disagreed</i>. Who then +shall decide? That there is cruelty associated with the +taking away of life, it would be hard to deny, but the +correctness of choice between gradual stewing in slowly-heating +water, and being plunged at once into the +seething, bubbling cauldron, requires “<i>the revelations +of a boiled crab</i>” to clear up; and until a crustacean +production under that or a like title appears, we shall +continue to plunge our armour-clad victims in water at +212 degrees of Fahrenheit’s thermometer, and leave the +question as to the propriety of our so doing to those +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>who are disposed to grapple with the subject for its +own sake.</p> + +<p>The change of colour which takes place in many of +the crustacea during the process of boiling, has long +been a subject of remark. The common and edible +Crabs of this country have their tints far less affected +than the lobster, the peculiarly rich blue shade of +whose shell when in a living state is too well known +to need any lengthened description; this, as is well +known, changes to a bright red in the cooking-pot, and +the uniform of the <i>police</i> is exchanged for that of the +<i>line regiments</i>. This strange metamorphosis, researches +have shown to be entirely dependent on chemical laws. +The pigment on which the blue shading and tint depend, +is a peculiar fat-like substance, which possesses +the singular property of becoming scarlet when subjected +to 70 degrees of heat shown in the <i>centigrade</i> +thermometer. A colouring matter of very similar +properties was some time since discovered in the beaks +and legs of certain birds.</p> + +<p>The lobster pigment is soluble in spirits of wine, by +which agent it can be extracted from the shell; but the +colour changes at once from blue to red. And on adding +either nitric or sulphuric acid, the charged spirit is +changed to a green of a remarkably <i>fast</i> or permanent +character. Who shall say, as fresh discoveries are +made and new solvents brought to light, that lobster +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>shells may not become more valuable than the appetising +fish they once contained! We see no reason +why the dormant sprite, who lies hid in the coat of +sea mail, should not be roused from his long sleep and +set to work with the other kobolds who do the will of +the mighty magician <i>chemistry</i>; and little dreams the +fascinating belle, who has been made “<i>beautiful for ever</i>,” +how much those same kobolds have had to do with +the process. <i>Bismuth</i>, from the deep-mine cavern, gives +to the skin the pearly white so much prized: the +cochineal bug, from the prickly cactus thickets, the +roseate hue (“<i>The Turkish Bloom of Health</i>”) which is +said, in the flowery language of the advertisers, to impart +to the cheek the attractive lustre of the ripe peach. +The elegant <i>mauve</i> dress, ribbons, and gloves, are “tinctured” +by a toiling imp residing in <i>gas tar</i>. “<i>Lovely +things</i>” in green too are industriously turned out by two +quaint, but rather dangerous and mischievously disposed +gentlemen of the elfish crew, Messrs. Arsenic +and Copper, who work in partnership, and whose attractive +joint productions some time since poisoned a +number of the sea-green nymphs of a Parisian ballet. +How far more appropriate and safe would it have been +to draw from the rich stores of king Neptune the +materials with which to dye the drapery of the stage +mermaid and seaside beauty, and we hope ere long to see +“<i>the new lobster-shell green</i>,” under some tremendously +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>sonorous Greek name (without which success would be +doubtful), “<i>the fashionable colour</i>.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p028" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p028.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The juvenile members of most of our seaside communities +are much given to crab-fishing, and may be +seen from early morn to evening late, dangling their +legs over some convenient rock, sea-wall, or landing-steps, +and with a piece of twine to which a dainty +morsel of fish offal has been tied, doing their best to +induce some greedy young crabling to grasp it with his +nippers, when, with a sudden jerk and triumphant +shout, the deluded victim is pitched out high and dry +before he knows what he is about, and is then tied by +the leg and led about like a lilliputian pig, who +strongly objects to either going to market or staying at +home. Fortunately for him he is not very good to eat, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>or as a rule very large; still his captors, when they do +secure him of even ordinary dimensions, treat him to a +pot of boiling water, and let him go cheap. This +description of crustacean is known as the Harbour or +Shore Crab (<i>Carcinus maenas</i>), and is represented in +the preceding cut. He is a weed of almost every soil, +and a perfect pest to those who fish in estuaries +and tidal rivers, nibbling off the bait in a manner +past all endurance, and when the watchful angler, +anticipating the presence of a plump and silvery fish +at the end of the line, raises his fishing-rod aloft, +there hangs instead, a green, mud-coloured little +imp, clawing the air like an enraged spider, making +himself in fact in every way obnoxious and disagreeable.</p> + +<p>Then there are other members of the same amiable +race, with whom he who fishes the sea with nets will +not be long before he makes acquaintance. These are +the <i>swimming Crabs</i>, of which there are numerous +species. These differ materially from the kinds we +have described, in habits, appearance, and structure. +By the use of their powerful oar-like legs they are +enabled to propel themselves through the water with +great rapidity and precision, and by darting among the +meshes of the fishing-nets they become so hopelessly +entangled, that a “<i>Fiddler Crab</i>” (as it is sometimes +called from the rapidity with which it works its elbows) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>in a <i>trammel net</i>, is often used by fishermen as a standard +with which to compare cases of the most utter bewilderment. +The annexed cut represents one of these, +the Velvet Swimming Crab (<i>Portunus puber</i>).</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p030" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p030.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The still, deep, lagunes, within the coral reefs, in the +southern and eastern seas, contain creatures of this +class most exquisite in form and colour, and we have +often looked down into some clear, well-like gulf between +the branching coralines, clustering sponges, and +actinea of countless hues, and watched the marvellous +episodes of deep-sea life there passing beneath; fringes +of crystal arms, disc-like mouths, and far-stretching +tendril-shaped legs, wave from every point and ledge, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>whilst crustaceans, as of animated enamel work, accompanied +by fish, like living gems, troop restlessly in +and out and to and fro, in an endless throng.</p> + +<p><i>Anthozoa</i>, those living, ocean blossoms, spread their +petals of a thousand hues, whilst the family of <i>Medusidæ</i> +float like shadows through the tranquil depths.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Now it is pleasant in the summer eve,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When a broad shore retiring waters leave,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Awhile to wait upon the firm fair sand,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When all is calm at sea, all still at land;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And there the ocean’s produce to explore.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">As floating by, or rolling on the shore</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Those living jellies which the flesh inflame,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fierce as a nettle, and from that their name:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Some in huge masses, some that you may bring</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In the small compass of a lady’s ring:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Figured by Hand Divine—there’s not a gem</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Wrought by man’s art to be compared to them;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Soft, brilliant, tender, through the wave they glow,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And make the moonbeams brighter where they flow.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Involved in sea-wrack, here you find a race,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Which science doubting, knows not where to place.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">On shell or stone is dropped the embryo seed,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And quickly vegetates a vital breed;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While thus with pleasing wonder you inspect</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Treasures the vulgar in their scorn reject.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">See as they float along th’ entangled weeds,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Slowly approach, upborne on bladdery beads.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Wait till they land, and you shall then behold</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The fiery sparks those tangled fronds infold</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Myriads of living points; the unaided eye</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Can but the fire and not the form descry.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And now your view upon the ocean turn,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And there the splendour of the waves discern:</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Cast but a stone, or strike them with an oar,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And you shall flames within the deep explore;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or scoop the stream phosphoric as you stand,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the cold flames shall flash along your hand.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When lost in wonder, you shall walk and gaze</div> + <div class="verse indent0">On weeds that sparkle, and on waves that blaze.”</div> + </div> + + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Crabbe.</span> +</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Spider Crabs are there, too, both here and in the +seas, washing our own island, with limbs so long and +attenuated, and bodies so small, that they look more +like overgrown <span class="allsmcap">DADDY LONGLEGS</span> going through a +course of sea-bathing than aught else, and we almost +begin to think they must be marine spiders after all, +and wonder where the sea-flies are, and what sort of +webs they would spin to catch them in. The Indian +seas have inhabitants of the serpent order, which are +by no means safe to meddle with. They, too, desport +after their own manner:—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Beyond the shadow of the ship</div> + <div class="verse indent0">I watched the water snakes;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They moved in tracks of shining white,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And when they reared, the elfish light</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fell off in hoary flakes.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Within the shadow of the ship</div> + <div class="verse indent0">I watched their rich attire,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They coiled and swam; and every track</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Was a flash of golden fire.”</div> + </div> + + +<p class="right"> + “<i>Ancient Mariner.</i>” +</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>The subject of the annexed illustration is the common +slender Spider Crab (<i>Stenorynchus tenuirostris</i>), +frequently captured on our own coast. Some of these +queer gentry, near relatives of his, are as prickly as +a chestnut husk, and have claws like crooked tobacco-pipe +stems. No cook even in the last stage of insanity +could hope to utilize them.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p033" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p033.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Then we have the soft-tailed, <i>Soldier</i>, or <i>Hermit +Crabs</i>, who, because they are insufficiently clad by +nature, seize on the first convenient shell they can +discover, and then, by adroitly introducing the point +of the tail, slip into it, much as a skilful stage demon +vanishes through a <i>vampire trap</i>. Vacant shells are +not always selected as mansions; those with inhabitants +are not unfrequently taken possession of, when a +process of forcible ejectment is had recourse to, and +the hapless mollusc is soon gobbled up, and his house +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>occupied by the spoiler. <i>Pagurus Bernhardus</i>, the +subject of the annexed illustration, is no doubt familiar +to many of our readers, as most of the little salt-water +ponds amongst the rocks and stones have one or more +of these tiny hermitages in them. Whelk-shells are +very commonly found inhabited by the pagurus we are +describing, and large numbers, under the name of <i>Crab +Whelks</i>, are collected, and used as bait, after the shell +and hard structures have been removed by breaking +them off with a hammer.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p034" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p034.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p><i>Pea Crabs</i> there are also, living at free quarters in +houses not their own; but of these we shall have +more to say further on. The Hermits we find on our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>coasts are perfect pigmies when compared with some of +the species found in and about the tropic seas, who, +dwelling in the huge helmet-like shells with which +these warm regions abound, spend almost as much of +their lives out of the sea as in it, consume large quantities +of vegetable matter, and appear capable of supporting +life for some time without absolutely going +into the water.</p> + +<p>Tenantless mollusc shells are not the only dwelling +places of the Hermits, and other species of Crabs, +and they have, from periods of remote antiquity to our +own day, been found in situations in which they apparently +have no reasonable right to be. This has given +rise to much learned disputation, and not a few wild +theories and quaint conceits.</p> + +<p>That matchless piece of nature’s handiwork, the Philippine +Island sponge (see next page)—Venus’s Flower +Basket, or <i>Euplectella speciosa</i>, of naturalists—which +has recently attracted so much attention in the British +Museum and among the scientific world, was, about a +year since, accidentally hauled up from the bottom of +the sea, entangled on a fish-hook, by a native who was +fishing for rock cod off the Island of Zebu, one of the +Philippine group. Since the first discovery, numerous +specimens have been obtained in the same locality, and +from 30<i>l.</i> (the price paid for the fisherman’s prize) the +value has progressively become less. Still purchasers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>are numerous enough to make flower-basket hunting +a remunerative occupation for some time to come. It +is perfectly impossible, even with the aid of pictorial +illustration, to give an adequate idea of the elegance +and beauty of this extraordinary production. Of cornucopiæ +form, and of the finest Brussels lace texture, it +stands like a network vase among a tuft of crystal +threads. The cover, like that of some antique flagon, +crowns the top, and completes the strange resemblance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>to man’s most skilled and perfect productions. Venus +herself might well be proud of such a flower-basket; +but like many other things of beauty, there are mysteries +round their growth and formation. One of these, +is the almost invariable presence of the remains of +one or more Crabs in the interior of this, to them, +crystal prison, out of which escape is just as impossible +as from a capsuled bottle. Many differences of +opinion exist as to the mode by which the Crabs first +obtained an entrance; there appears, however, little +doubt that this is effected whilst the sponge is in an +immature condition, and before the cover is woven. +There is a young specimen which we have examined +in the British Museum in this incomplete state, and +it is questionable whether the basket-like tube is ever +covered until it has reached maturity; when, although +the sponge appears to cease growing in an upward +direction, the power possessed by it to secrete the +silicious matter of which the network is composed +remains unimpaired, and, like a skilful artisan as he is, +he at once repairs neatly such injuries as his crystal +palace may sustain.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p036" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p036.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Dr. Gray has in his possession a specimen in which +a repair of this kind has been effected. A hole appears +to have been broken by some accident in one of the +sides about half-way between the point of attachment +and the cover. A new network of fibres in bunches +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>has been substituted for the broken ones—of form +much like the original structure. The peculiar curved +or <i>cornucopia</i> shape before referred to, and usually, +although not invariably, assumed by these baskets, has +also given rise to much speculation amongst the +scientific. Dr. Gray gives it as his opinion that the +weight of the Crab when crawling through the interior +of the tube, may influence the direction in which the +basket is found to incline. He says: “As the Crab +becomes imprisoned in the cavity, it will be constantly +walking up and down the tube to procure food, and +by so doing will, most likely, bend the tube on one +side, so that the free end of the tube may become bent +down nearly to the level of the base;” and it remains +an open question whether this is the true solution of +the enigma, or, like the goblet forms of some species +of sponges, and the rounded contour of others, the +cornucopia form of growth may not, after all, be that +common to <i>E. speciosa</i>.</p> + +<p>It appears to be the prevailing opinion amongst the +fishermen by whom the Euplectella is taken, and by +whom it is known as the <i>Rigederos</i>, “that it is the +work of two insects (meaning probably the Crabs +found in the tubes) at the bottom of the sea.” A +French correspondent in writing recently to the authorities +of the British Museum, expresses his opinion +that the Euplectella is the work of the Crabs. There +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>are very grave reasons, however, why this opinion +should be received with the greatest caution, if not +absolute doubt. In the first place, we know of no +crustacean possessing a like power of silicious secretion +and construction. Then the Crabs which are found +inclosed are not always of the same species, or even +genera. Dr. Gray is of opinion that one which he +examined through the meshes was a <i>Pagurus</i>, and of +habits identical with those which we have already +described. Crabs with such investigating and intrusive +instincts as these, would not fail to explore the +inmost recesses of a hollow tube of such a tempting +appearance as the young, growing, and coverless Euplectella +would present; and what more probable +than that, as the tube became perfected and the lid +partly made, the Crab or Crabs might still continue +to inhabit it, until the orifice being at last closed up, +and escape impossible, our friend remained a prisoner +for life. His cast-off shells, like old worn-out garments, +would remain sealed up securely with him, and give +the idea that many Crabs had there resided.</p> + +<p>The ancients, although totally ignorant of the +existence of the beautiful lace-work basket we have +described, and the creatures dwelling within them, were +nevertheless perfectly aware of the presence of small +Crabs in the shells of the great silk-yielding mussel +(<i>Pinna nobilis</i>), who, because he had no visual organs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>himself, was supposed to need the services of a vigilant +submarine watchman, sharp of ear and keen of eye—a +sort of <i>concierge</i>, in fact—to attend to the door and +keep out all unwelcome visitors.</p> + +<p>The researches of Lamarck go to show that the +ancient writers were generally of opinion that these +Crabs were especially employed as general guardians +and inseparable companions to the Pinna, that they +had one common birth, and that the one could not +exist without the other,—the absence of vision in the +Pinna being compensated for by the vigilance of the +Crab, whilst in matters requiring power and resistance, +<i>Cancer</i> had only to give the required sign by a gentle +nip, when his partner, with the strength of a sea-giant, +shut his shell-trap-door on all the inquisitive, intrusive +little fish within the fatal portal, when the firm of +<i>Pinna</i> and <i>Crab</i> made remarkably short reckonings +with them. We read that in 1749, Hasselquist, the +distinguished naturalist, undertook a voyage to the +Levant, and corresponded with Linnæus during his +travels. In one of his communications he thus writes +from Smyrna:—“Amongst others they sell here a +<i>sepia</i>, or cuttle-fish, which by them is called Οκτωποδια. +It has only eight tentacles all of equal length. The +whole animal is a foot long, and thick in proportion. +Of this the Greeks have related an anecdote which +I think remarkable. The <i>Pinna muricata</i>, or great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>silk mussel, is here found in the bottom of the sea in +large quantities, and is a foot long. The cuttle-fish +watches the opportunity when the mussel opens her +shell to creep in and devour her; but a little Crab +which has scarcely any shell, or has at least only a +very thin one, lodges constantly in this shell-fish. +She pays a good rent by saving the life of her landlady, +for she keeps a constant look-out through the +aperture of the shell, and on seeing the enemy approach +she begins to stir, when the πινα (for so the Greeks +call the shell-fish) shuts up her house, and the rapacious +animal is excluded. I saw this shell-fish first +at the Island of Milo, and found such a little Crab in +all I opened. I wondered not a little what was her +business there; but when I came here, I was first +informed of it by the Secretary of our Consul, M. +Justi, a curious and ingenious man, who has travelled +much, and lived long in this place. This was afterwards +confirmed by several Greeks who daily catch +and eat both these animals.”</p> + +<p>The common Pea Crab (<i>Pinnotheres pisum</i>), represented +in the annexed cut, and of enlarged scale, is an +inhabitant of our own coasts, and frequently found +residing within the shell of the common edible mussel, +(<i>Mytilus edulis</i>); but it is very remarkable that the +female Crabs are very much more numerous than the +males, and that although the male Crab may be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>at times captured at a distance from his strange +lodging, we know of no instance of a female being +taken in any situation but within the shell of some +mollusc. Aristotle speaks of this small mail-clad +janitor as a little fish with claws, like those of a Crab, +which keeps guard and ward for the <i>Pinna</i>, grows +to her mouth, and acts as her caterer. Pliny too +remarked and described the apparently anomalous +association. He speaks of the Pinna as a shell-fish +that is found in muddy waters, always erect, and never +without a companion of the Crab kind. Oppiannus +not only knew that Crabs existed commonly in the +Pinna shells, but clearly conceived that it was their +duty and mission to do so. Thus he writes:—</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p042" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p042.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“The Pinna and the Crab together dwell</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For mutual succour in one common shell;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They both to gain a livelihood combine,—</div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>That</i> takes the prey when <i>this</i> has given the sign.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">From hence this Crab above his fellows famed</div> + <div class="verse indent0">By ancient Greeks was <i>Pinnatores</i> named.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p043" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p043.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The accompanying illustration, on a very enlarged +scale, represents the pinna’s companion, <i>Pinnotheres +veterum</i>, which will be seen at a glance to differ materially +in appearance from <i>P. pisum</i>. The mussel is not +the only shell in which <i>P. pisum</i> finds ready-furnished +lodgings. The common cockle (<i>Cardium edule</i>), and in +some instances the ordinary oyster, being selected to +supply them. Mr. W. Thompson, in writing on the +crustaceans of Ireland, says, “The smallest Pinnotheres +I have seen was found by Mr. Hyndman, in a +living <i>Cardium exignum</i>, dredged up by us in Strangford +Lough, in October, 1834. It is a male. The carapace +is under a line in length; the entire breadth of the +Crab from the extremities of the outstretched legs is +three lines. The cardium is under three lines in +length, and barely exceeds that admeasurement in +breadth; so that the Crab, when in the position just +mentioned, must have on both sides touched the walls +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>of his chosen prison. The <i>Pinnotheres</i> likewise inhabits +the <i>Cardium edule</i>. Before me is one of these +Crabs, of which the carapace is two lines in breadth, +obtained by Mr. Hyndman in a full-grown <i>C. edule</i> +from Strangford Lough; but from the Sligo coast where +this Crab attains an extraordinary large size, a Crab with +a carapace four lines in breadth, and with outstretched +legs seven lines across, was once kindly brought to me +by Lord Enniskillen. Mr. R. Ball informs me that on +two occasions he obtained a great number of the Pinnotheres, +and which were all males, from the <i>Cardium +edule</i>, when at Youghal. About nine out of every ten +cockles contained a Crab. On opening oysters at +Tenby in Wales he has procured the Pinnotheres. This +Crab, like the <i>Pagurus</i>, occupies different species of +shells according to its size, and at every age, and generally +selects such as with outstretched legs it would fill +from side to side.”</p> + +<p>Another extraordinary instance of anomalous association +is to be found in the habits of the <i>Pagurus prideauxii</i>, +which is invariably found with the cloak Anemone +(<i>Adamsia palliata</i>) adhering to it, and so strong are the +mysterious bonds of relationship, friendship, or whatever +it may be called, which bind them together, that on the +Pagurus finding it requisite to increase the size of his +borrowed mansion, the Anemone, like a chosen companion +as he is, follows to the new home, being deftly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>held by the nippers of the fresh inhabitant until enabled +to obtain a firm hold just outside the portal, where it +remains until some other removal is made, or more +commodious quarters required. From these sociable +house-hunting adventurers we pass on to the burrowing +Crabs, of which there are many kinds, indulging in +habits most curious and noteworthy. Perhaps the +most remarkable of these, is the great Cocoa-nut +Eating Crab, or “<i>Ou-Ou</i>,” as it is called by the natives +of some of the localities in which it is met with. It +is the <i>Birgus latro</i> of naturalists, and is well represented, +although on a very reduced scale in the illustration +next page. It is found in many of the Coral +Islands dotting the Indian seas and Pacific ocean, and +beneath the rustling, waving, cocoa-nut groves, which +abound within the torid zone. The <i>Ou-Ou</i> forms for himself +a home, delving and burrowing, miner-like, beneath +the wide-spreading roots of the tropic trees, and excavating +deep and cunningly-formed galleries and chambers +in the coral sand and broken shells; and one is almost +disposed to think that the following lines by Thomson +must have been penned in all the fervour of a +poet’s admiration for the happy lot of our friend of +subterranean proclivities:—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Sheltered amid the orchards of the sun,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where high palmettos lift their graceful shade,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Give me to drain the cocoa’s milky bowl,</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> <div class="verse indent0">And from the palm to drain its fresh’ning wine,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">More bounteous far than all the frantic juice</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Which Bacchus pours.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p046" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p046.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Here, like a feudal baron of old, he forms for himself +a stronghold, sallying forth like a freebooter, to feast +on the spoils of the grove. Curious stories are related of +these marauders, and it has been gravely asserted that +they have been known to ascend the tall stalks of the +cocoa palms for the purpose of detaching and throwing +down the nuts. We are not prepared to say that particular +palms (when in a more than ordinarily sloping +posture) may not been have climbed in the manner stated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>by certain species. Our own experience, however, +strongly disposes us to think that such nuts as from time +to time fall to the ground from ordinary causes, constitute +the prizes commonly appropriated by <i>B. latro</i>. +His enormously powerful and ponderous nippers enable +him to husk and rend these from their tenacious coatings +with surprising speed and facility; and it is only +necessary to examine the cocoa-nut husks with the +nuts within them, as imported from abroad, to be convinced +that our nut-eating friend must be a veritable +crustacean Hercules, to be capable of such feats of +strength, as the dragging forth of the treasures from +their dense fibrous envelopes unquestionably are; and +a Hercules he is in his own way, for the tenacious +wire-like network of cocoa fibre in which the nut is +inclosed, is torn, split, and rent asunder, as though +with the iron pincers of a brawny blacksmith, until +the coveted dainty is set free. One end of every +common cocoa-nut has, as most of our readers are +aware, three holes in it; these, from their position +and quaint resemblance to the face of a living creature, +are called the monkey’s face. One of these holes is +selected as a point of attack, and a succession of +adroitly-delivered and heavy raps are rapidly given +with the large claw. An opening, or breach, is thus +very quickly effected. The narrow pair of nippers now +come into operation, and by dexterously inserting them, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>the whole of the white, sweet, oleaginous contents are +deftly scooped and clawed out. <i>B. latro</i> has a keen eye +to future wants as well as to present enjoyment; he is +not only a gourmand, but pretty much of a utilitarian; +so he employs his sharp, powerful claws in carding and +combing up the bundles of tangled coir, remaining after +his husk-splitting operation. This, by dint of much +clawing to and fro, at length becomes almost as fine as +tow, or the oakum used by shipwrights. When sufficiently +manipulated, he gathers together the result of his +labours, and transports it to the inmost recesses of his +subterranean stronghold beneath the roots; a bed is +here made from it, on which our friend reclines; and it +helps to form a convenient covering and protection for +him when debarred from the pleasures and delights of +Crab society during the uncomfortable process of shell-changing. +The crafty human inhabitants of these wave-washed +isles, are too well versed in the habits of our +friend, and too well aware of his provident habits, not +to avail themselves of the stores of well-preserved fibre +thus laid up; advantage is therefore taken of the buried +store, which is unceremoniously dragged forth, collected +together, and made use of for caulking the seams +of their canoes, and many other useful purposes. +During the period of comparative torpidity usually +accompanying the shell-shifting process, the wants of +nature are wonderfully and wisely provided for. These +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>strange creatures are each furnished with a species of +natural magazine, containing fatty matter, which they +carry beneath their tails. Some Crabs of large size +have been known to yield enough to produce a quart +of oil, limpid, of excellent quality, and highly esteemed +by the natives. <i>B. latro</i> is much given to nocturnal +rambling, and frequent visits are by him paid to localities +within the cheering influences of the salt-sea wave; +but we do not agree with those writers who have accused +him of nightly hydropathic journeys. During the breeding +season some considerable time is spent by the +whole family in exploring the countless rock-pools and +lagunes between the coral reefs. Here, after the departure +of the parents for their homes amongst the +roots, the juvenile crabs continue to desport themselves, +until grown strong enough to attack the nuts on their +own account, when they proceed to join their seniors in +the family diggings. The natives, when they set their +minds on a Crab-hunting expedition, provide themselves +with much the same kind of equipment as a +party of English gamekeepers would use when about to +extract a secretive badger from his burrow. Digging, +and that of the most determined and energetic description, +is the favourite method of bringing the game to +light, which desirable consummation is rarely arrived at +until a very large amount of loud shouting and needless +leaping about has been had recourse to. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>unfortunate Crabs are very good to eat, and they appear +thoroughly aware of it, making use of every effort +in their power to avoid capture. They are, nevertheless, +ruthlessly overtaken in the subterranean race, +dragged forth into the broad sunlight, ignominiously +bound with cords twisted from the tough fibre of the +cocoa husk (a very requisite precaution by the bye), +and lugged off into hopeless captivity.</p> + +<p>Some of these nut-feeders grow to a monstrous size +(some being over two feet long), are armed with nippers +of most formidable dimensions, and make no more of +snapping the strong cord, with which the Crab-catchers +endeavour to secure them, than if they were as many +strands of packthread. At certain seasons of the +year a vegetable diet appears to become unpalatable to +our friend. He then seeks a change, and levies open +and indiscriminate warfare on all the tribe of shell-bearing +molluscs he can lay his thievish claws on, not +giving even the ghost of a chance of escape. He +seizes them forcibly with his nippers, and then extracts +them from their snug shell-castles, with a dexterity +which an accomplished London shell-fish dealer might +look on with envy; and then, not content with devouring +the ill-fated tenant, he performs a sort of grotesque +defiant, and triumphal march, with the vacant shell +raised like a standard, aloft in his claws, as if for the +express purpose of inciting other Crabs more peaceably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>disposed and less nefarious in their habits, to the perpetration +of outrages of a similar character. Take him +for all in all, <i>B. latro</i> may be considered anything but a +well-conducted member of the family to which he +belongs. His name denotes the character which he +has fully earned and universally maintains.</p> + +<p>The countless thousands of islands, reefs, and spots +of newly-formed land dotting the South Seas and +Indian Ocean, are ever on the increase. The foundations +of these are firmly laid at the sea’s bottom by +legions of that tiny toiler of the deep, the coral insect, +and year by year, and age by age, his ceaseless labours +progress upward and ever upward towards the light +of heaven; layer by layer, and ledge by ledge, are +formed, until the pigmy beginning grows to be a strong +sea-wall, like the ramparts of some Old World fortress. +In time, the green wave breaks and feathers on its +crest, whilst other walls slowly but surely raise their +masses from beneath. Within their circling grasp, a +still rock lake at length is formed, round which the +angry billows roll and thunder, chafing at the mighty +barrier disputing their dominion. Here, within the +safe, still pool, collect the thousand and one waifs and +strays, ever to be found floating or driven by the tide +currents. Fragments of wreck from distant shores, dead +fish, empty mollusc shells, echini, sea-weed, and drift-wood +cast far out to sea by the floods of the great rivers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>of the tropics;—all these, and innumerable other objects, +find a resting-place on the newly-formed rocks, and in +due time are broken up by decay, but are always added +to by the same great store, until, wave-borne in their +rough, strong, buoyant husks, come cocoa-nuts and +other seeds. These quickly germinate, sprout up, and +send their roots far out in search of nutriment, and +thus bind the loose materials of the new-formed ground +together. Watered by the tropic showers and sea spray, +the little sea-girt forest grows apace, and the wandering +sea-fowl, and migratory birds are not slow in converting +it into a haven of rest for their wearied pinions. These +last visitors bring in their crops, from far-off continents +and islands, the seeds of many shrubs and plants, +which, falling amongst elements congenial to their +growth, rapidly spring into life, and, like the trees +amongst which they find shelter, bear seed in their +turn, and in due season die, to afford food for their +successors in the kingdom of plants. Man claims some +of these realms as his own; others are left to such +inhabitants as nature may people them with. The West +India Islands, too, are inhabited by many curious and +interesting members of the Crab family: one of these +known as the Land Crab (<i>Gecarcinus ruricola</i>), is +pretty much of a highlander in his nature. The +upland solitudes are most to his taste, and here he +forms for himself a snug retreat beneath the earth of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>the hill-side. As the spawning season approaches, a +mighty gathering of the clans takes place, and whole +legions unwarned by fiery cross, or blazing beacon, +hasten forth to join the living tide flowing onward towards +the sea. Through the tangled jungle, down the +rock-strewn ravine, over fallen tree-trunks, and among +the dense undergrowth of the forest, in ceaseless, creeping, +crawling, scuttling thousands; still they come +onward, and ever onward, as the bright stars shine out +to light them on their way. Banks, hedges, walls, and +even houses are passed straight over in this crustacean +steeplechase, no flags being needed to keep the mail-clad +competitors to the true course—instinct the guide, +and the blue sea for a goal, nothing stops the race.</p> + +<p>Cuffee and his companions, who have been gossiping +and story-telling beneath their cocoa-leaf roofs until +half-asleep, appear to become most violent and incurable +lunatics, on suddenly becoming aware of the nocturnal +exodus: they leap high in the air, shout, scream, +and dance like fiends, whilst the most ready-witted of +the crew dash off to <i>de massa</i> with the startling news. +“Hi, golly, sa; de Crab, de Crab! he come for sure +dis time, sure nuff; plenty catch um bum by;” and +Cuffee keeps his word to the letter, and captures the +pilgrims by the basketful, in spite of their claws; and +black-faced woolley-headed Aunt Lilly, the cook, shows +her teeth like ivory dominoes in an ebony box, as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>visions of white, snow-like rice, cocoa-nut milk, capsicum +pods, and stewpans pass in pleasing and appetising +review before her, and massa himself takes an extra +pull at the cold sangaree jug, sleeps pleasantly, and +dreams of the Crab feast of the morrow.</p> + +<p>At the termination of the spawning season the survivors +return to their homes among the hills; and but +little notice is taken of them now, as they night by night +bend their weary steps on the backward march, poor, +low-conditioned, and unfit for human food, like the +salmon-kelt on his journey to the sea. A short residence +in his earth burrow serves to set our friend the +Crab on his legs again, and make even better food of +him than can be prepared during the migration. Sugar-cane +plantations are his delight, and in them he regales +himself like an alderman, nipping through the +crisp rind of the sugar-bearing reed, sucking the +luscious juices and clawing out the sweet contents, +until a rustling sound warns him that Nemesis, in the +form of our old friend Cuffee, is not far off, and that +active individual, accompanied by a prick-eared cur, and +armed with a spike-pointed cane, pounces down on the +very spot where <i>G. ruricola</i>, Esq. had been so pleasantly +regaling himself, and now commences a fierce +and relentless action.</p> + +<p><i>Cuffee, Cur, and Spike, v. Crab.</i> Ever on the alert, +Crab darts off backwards with astonishing rapidity, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>keeping a very bright eye on the cur, who rushes pell-mell +after him through the canes, cheered on by the +shouts and “Ya, ya’s” of his sable master, whose aim +it is to head back the Crab, or pin him with his spike. +This latter feat he all but accomplishes; but the Crab +darts like lightning a couple of feet backwards, and +then shoots off at right angles with the agility of a +sprite. One more rapid dart in the opposite direction, +the spike is furiously hurled by baffled Cuffee, and is +within an inch of transfixing the cur, who sniffs and +whines disconsolately at the mouth of a hole, which +leads he knows not whither.</p> + +<p>When hunting amongst the grass jungles of the +Mahratta country, we were greatly amused at the +quaint proceedings of a species of Crab which at +certain seasons abounds there. These little fellows, +members of the genus <i>Thelphusa</i>, were, when we saw +them, busily engaged in their hay harvest, and actively +engaged in mowing the grass. This they did in the +most curiously quaint and elfish manner, sitting bolt +upright and working their sharp scissors like nippers +right and left, until enough to form a bundle had been +gathered; then, with this, compactly rolled up in sheafs, +off they would trot to their holes, and when the load +had been safely disposed of, back they would scuttle for +others with quite as much bustle, fuss, and excitement +as if they had been the owners of a large estate, a hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>acres of meadow hay to get in, and the barometer +at change. So we left our funny, clever, energetic little +friends with a good speed, hard at it, making hay whilst +the sun shone.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p056" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p056.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>These little fellows, we have every reason to think, +are purely inland in their habits, and we know of no +instance of their being known to travel either singly +or in bodies to the sea coast. A member of the same +genera, represented in the annexed cut, is found in +many parts of the south of Europe, forming burrows +for itself in the river banks, and from this habit +obtains the name of <i>Thelphusa fluviatilis</i>. Few specimens +reach three inches in length, and the colour is +no means inviting, being of a dingy yellow. Yet it +appears to have attracted much attention amongst the +ancients: both Aristotle and Hippocrates knew it well, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>and there are medals which were struck in very early +periods bearing representations of this Crab on them. +There appear to be some religious associations connected +with crustaceans of this description, as we +find the monks of the Greek church taking +some pains to procure them, and then disposing of +the dainty without troubling the cook. In Italy the +burrowing Crabs are eaten at Easter, much as we eat +hot-cross-buns on Good Friday. There are other Crabs +which form burrows both in the sands of the sea-shore +and the banks and plains of the interior. One of +these is the <i>Sand Crab</i> (<i>Ocypoda arenaria</i>) of +naturalists). The wide, open sand stretches of many +tropical countries, abound with these remarkably agile +little creatures, who excavate holes in the sand close to +the borders of the tide. These are the lilliputian +pedestrians with whom skylarking midshipmen engage +in foot-races along the strand, and meet ignominious +defeat in consequence. As autumn approaches, their +sea-side retreats are quitted, the inland burrows occupied, +and a state of hybernation gone into, until, the +winter having passed away and the spring weather +come, <i>Seaward ho!</i> is the order of the day again.</p> + +<p>The <i>Gelasimus</i> is in many respects similar in its +habits to these fleet-footed gentlemen, but he turns his +attention more directly to sapping and mining operations, +carrying on his labours in the most cunning and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>artful manner. Nothing annoys him more than to have +prying men or investigating animals, passing their remarks, +or taking note of the mouth of his shaft; so he +digs away in his deep level, until he has accumulated a +goodly quantity of sand and earth, when up he comes +stealthily to the opening of his mine, pops out his head, +peers sharply and jealously round, and, if the coast +appears clear, round he flourishes his claw with all the +force and precision of an accomplished round-hand +bowler at cricket, and away he casts the proceeds of his +excavations, but at the same time taking care that no +two clawfuls go in the same direction, lest the newly-raised +sand should betray the secret he is so careful to +conceal.</p> + +<p>The sands of the reefs and islands of the Eastern seas +afford a home for the King Crab (<i>Limulus</i>), who, with +his odd-looking, shield-shaped body, and long blade-like +spike or spear, will be familiar to many of our +readers. Some individuals of this species grow to a +very large size, and are sought for by the Malays, both +on account of the immense number of eggs they sometimes +contain, and the natural weapon with which +nature has armed them. These lance-shaped spears are +often made use of as points for arrows and other warlike +implements, mainly because the wounds inflicted with +them are more painful and dangerous than those +received from instruments of iron or steel. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>Malays are by no means an amiable or forgiving race, +and take infinitely more pains to poison the blade +of the “crease” or serpentine-knife they carry, than to +serve a friend or save a life, and we therefore feel far +more respect for the Crab who furnishes the point for +the arrow, than for the man who fires it. Then there is +the <i>Nut Crab</i>, or <i>Calappa</i>, whose queer little legs are +so closely tucked away under his odd little shell, that +rambling “<i>Jack Tars</i>” in search of “<i>Curios</i>” not unfrequently +gather a few to bring home to their friends, +under the idea that when cut and polished they will +serve to form elegant brooches and splendid shirt-pins, +for the gay promenades of Portsmouth and Plymouth. +A dry old salt of a quartermaster, on the Indian station, +chanced one day, when on shore for a cruise, to become +possessed of a goodly number of these <i>lucky stones</i>, as +he called them, and by way of securing his treasures +placed them in an old silk-handkerchief, and stowed +them away, with a few dollars and sundry cakes of +<i>cavendish</i>, in the corner of his chest. It so happened +that some piratical ship-mate, not proof against the +allurements of <i>honey dew</i> and silver, but totally indifferent +to natural history, seized his opportunity and +spirited off the tobacco and money, but left the <i>lucky +stones</i> behind. The next day, when our old friend +came for his accustomed supply of the weed, he, to his +horror, astonishment, and indignation, found the supposed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>pebbles in active motion, performing foot-races +over his best jacket, the handkerchief spread open, +and, alas! empty. “Well,” exclaimed he, “blow me if +this ain’t too much of the monkey. Why, look ye here, +messmates; these here blessed stones have come to +life, every man Jack of ’em. <i>They’ve chawed all my +bacca</i> and spent every meg of my money; and now I’ll +heave all the beggars to Davey Jones’s locker. Overboard +is where I means to pitch ’em!” and so he did, +no doubt to the intense gratification of the falsely-accused +Crabs. Like the Rocky Mountain ant, in +whose hill precious stones are not unfrequently found,—the +codfish acts the part of treasure-seeker among the +rocks and sands of the ocean’s depths,—minute crustaceans +of great variety, are by the shrewd and practical +lover of natural history, taken from the stomachs of +the captured fish, and many would have remained all +but unknown to science had it not been that the Crab +collecting-habits of certain large sea-fish, were discovered +and promptly taken advantage of. We +strongly advise all those who are fond of collecting +either British or foreign specimens never to miss +the opportunity of acquiring crustaceous wealth held +out by the taking of a large deep sea-fish. Take +out his “<i>treasure-sack</i>”—the stomach,—wash the +contents in plenty of clean water, carefully examine +them, and the trouble will not be thrown away, or the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>research made in vain. We have obtained very large +numbers of a very pretty little Crab scarcely as large +as a coffee-bean (<i>Porcellana longicornis</i>) in this way. +This little creature is closely allied to <i>P. platycheles</i>, +found abundantly on the southern coast of Devon. +He delights to dwell like a sort of “<i>Dirty Dick</i>” of +crustacean life in a mud hovel of his own scooping, +working his way beneath stones which appear close +enough to the bottom to make a crab-biscuit of him. +Catch him, when or how you will, he is always like an +elfish brick-maker, condemned to make bricks without +straw, and debarred the privilege of washing. His +jacket and trousers are begrimed with red dust, and his +queer little face peers out at you, like that of an Indian +idol smeared with war-paint. Nature has, however, +endowed him with brush-bearing feet, with which he +from time to time dusts his own suit; but he remains +a rather dusty, grimy, little fellow after all, and we +cannot help thinking that the treatment prescribed +by Mr. Dick, for David Copperfield, would greatly +benefit his personal appearance. Nature appears, when +modelling the forms of the endless types of curious +crustacean life with which the Southern and Eastern +seas abound, to have given free scope to a love for +marvellous quaintness and oddity of contour. The +coasts of Japan furnish us with examples of Crab life +so hideously grotesque, that nothing short of seeing a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>veritable specimen would serve to convince any one +who had first seen a sketch of this Japanese notability, +that the whole conception was not the creation of a +distempered dream. <i>Macrocheira-kœmpferi</i>, of which +two remarkably fine specimens are to be seen in the +British Museum, are just the kind of Crabs a timid +young lady, or nervous young gentleman, would strongly +object to meet “<i>by the sad sea wave</i>,” or elsewhere. +Their legs are so long, that running away from them +would be utterly useless,—giving them, when standing, +the height of an ordinary camp-stool, whilst the +nipper claws appear constructed precisely on the same +principle as are the arms of the magic policeman of a +pantomime, which stretch easily from the level of the +street to the housetop, where that prince of evil-doers, +the clown, has vainly sought sanctuary. Then the +coasts of Tasmania and other portions of Australasia +are inhabited by Crabs, who make up in bulk and +enormous power, the little they may fall short of their +Japanese cousins in length of limb. The pincers of +some of these are large enough to embrace the thigh of +a man easily, and we apprehend that escape from that +bugbear of apple-stealing rustics, the village man-trap, +would be a matter of perfect simplicity, and a mere +practical joke, to getting out of the grip of one of the +gigantic crustaceans of the antipodes. As some of these +are remarkable for their formidable appearance and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>colossal power, so are others well worthy of note on +account of their beauty of colour and elegance of conformation. +<i>Neptunus pelagicus</i>, a Crab of medium size, +is wonderfully handsome, being ornamented with most +strangely arranged spicules, and spotted with purple, +shading off into pink. <i>Oceanus crucifer</i>, an inhabitant +of the Indian seas, is perfectly charming in his way; in +fact, a sort of “<i>Dresden beauty</i>,” who might be easily +mistaken for a specimen of the most exquisite pink and +white china.</p> + +<p>From the Chilian coast we have another Crab, of a +totally different style of beauty, in the person of +<i>Cancer dentatus</i>, who appears to have laid the forest +under contribution to furnish his unique wardrobe. +A coat of bark, plant-stalk legs, and a very becoming +frill, of autumnal-brown fern-leaves, constitute his <i>get +up</i>, and it is no flattery to say that he looks uncommonly +well in it. From the Caribbean sea we get, +amongst a whole host of strange productions, that +little gem of a Crab, <i>Mithraculus coronatus</i>. He looks +as if designed expressly to be converted into a brooch, +his compact little body resembling the most delicately +tinted, blue porcelain, whilst his tiny claws are more +like minute tufts of fur than aught else we can compare +them to.</p> + +<p><i>Leucosia urania</i> is another strange Chinese Crab, +resembling in no common degree a pebble of polished +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>white agate; whilst a brother, <i>P. porcellana</i>, is found in +Australia; and nearer home, we obtain from the neighbourhood +of the Island of Madeira the <i>Plagusia +squamosa</i>, or Goat Crab, whose whole shell is rich in +ornamentation, and who is by no means unlike a +handsomely chased snuff-box, inlaid with chinaware +and metal. Unlike these bits of ocean bric-a-brac +is <i>Parthenope horrida</i>, from the reefs bordering the Isle +of France. This unprepossessing individual the casual +observer would declare without hesitation to be an +ungainly, rugged lump of broken white coral rock; and +there are uncomfortable asperities and corners enough +to prevent any pedestrian, however heedless, from +stepping on it; and let him just pick one up to cast at +some passing sea-bird, and see how quickly the stone +will resent the liberty, and show how he is to be +depended on at a pinch. Then, to step from the harsh +and uncompromising to the grotesque and elfish, we +have but to visit the genial blue waters of the Mediterranean, +where we find about as comical a little Crab +as exists in all “Crabdom,” wide as that ill-defined +dominion unquestionably is. This little gentleman is +known as <i>Dromia lator</i>, and his habits, to say the +least of them, are as eccentric as his personal appearance +is queer. A hairy, wiry-coated, round-bodied, +little crabling is he, and his delight is to go hunting and +foraging about amongst the coralines, medusæ, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>molluscs at the bottom, and because he is a designing, +artful little wolf of a crab, he brings to bear his talent +for stratagem. After searching out a nice, hollow +piece of soft and fine-grained sponge, he works his way +under it—roaches up his little back, until the yielding +material opens and again closes round him, thus forming +a snug and well fitting great-coat, which, like charity, +covers a multitude of sins.</p> + +<p>The tricksy sprites of fish and shrimps, as they +joyously disport themselves amongst the branching +coral, take little heed of the familiar ball of sponge, +which in some unaccountable manner or another +appears, uninvited, in the very midst of the revels. +It is strange, certainly, that guest after guest should +vanish into it, and return no more; but sponges, you +know, are common enough in every grade of society, +and therefore it is that the one in question is little +suspected of having a live adventurer, of the most +acquisitive and <i>nipsome</i> habits, bound up within its +folds: but there he is, for all that, as you would find +out to your cost, if you unwittingly enlisted him for +toilet purposes, on the strength of his borrowed +uniform.</p> + +<p>As another instance of quaint resemblance to +inanimate or stationary objects, we have <i>Echinocerus +cibarius</i>, a native of the North-west Coast of America, +where it was discovered during the voyage of Her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>Majesty’s ship <i>Plumper</i>; and nothing on earth does +this rugose creature so much resemble as a large, uneven, +ball of half-baked brick clay, and his claim to the +honour of being a Crab, would be laughed to scorn by +those who from bashfulness had never shaken hands +with him. Australia, that land of oddities, contributes +to our store a perfect little sea vagabond, in the person +of <i>Pilumnus nespertilis</i>, who is without any exception +the very dirtiest and most disreputable-looking little +scamp in all king Neptune’s dominions. Cut a frayed-out +corner, from a chimney-sweep’s soot-bag, and you +have his exact resemblance. Yet who shall say that +<i>P. nespertilis</i> is not a gentleman, in spite of his +unpromising and unfashionable raiment!</p> + +<p>Australia is a land of contradictions, as we all know. +Even <i>explorers’</i> names serve but to mislead and confound +the uninitiated. We have “Cape pigeons,” +which are no more pigeons than wild geese or storks: +“Cape salmon,” which own to no bonds of relationship +with the family of <i>Salmonidæ</i>.</p> + +<p>The “robins” of the United States of America +bear no resemblance to those of England, and enjoy +none of the love, protection, and numerous privileges +universally accorded to their more fortunate namesakes +on this side of the Atlantic. Again, we say advisedly, +let no man heedlessly try the strength of his teeth on +an “Indian wood-apple,” simply because it is called +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>“an apple.” He had far better make an attempt on +an iron cannon-shot of Woolwich pattern at once, than +try his powers of mastication on one of these forest +fruits. The cherry of Australia, too, has a disagreeable +and exasperating habit of growing with its stone outside, +and of being highly unpalatable into the bargain; +whilst the “pear” of that favoured land would, if +duly fitted by a clever cabinet-maker, and properly +polished, make an excellent and highly ornamental +knob for a street door. A cabbage-tree is by no means +bad as a producer of material for the manufacture +of hats, and the green tops are occasionally boiled by +settlers of vegetarian inclinings; but any one sanguine +enough to seek cabbages amongst the cabbage-palms +might reasonably be looked for, with bridle on arm, +and basket in hand, carefully prospecting the pastures +for a “mare’s nest,” with a view to the leading home +of the colts and the basketing of such eggs as might +remain unhatched. Depend, therefore, that our begrimed +little acquaintance is not exactly as stupid as +he looks, and that his dirty, hempen jacket, is given +him for some wise purpose. Nothing is created in +vain; and Columbus, with all his talent and power as a +sea commander, gladly availed himself of the services +of one of the most tiny Crabs (<i>Planes minutus</i>), who, +floating by the good ship, in his tangled bed of <i>Sargossa</i> +or gulf-weed, was hauled on board by the bronzed and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>storm-tossed mariners, by whom he was at once introduced +to the chief, the man of demonstration, who +crushed in the egg’s end to make it stand upright. +“A crab!” said he; “a good and fair harbinger of +land, which, with God’s help, we shall soon discover.” +And so they did, for the Crab’s tale came true, and the +West India Islands were almost immediately fallen in +with, and duly investigated.</p> + +<p><i>P. minutus</i> is a roving sailor by nature, and is +carried on his long sea-voyages by the masses of weed +ever carried onward by the warm and genial gulf-stream, +and there is little doubt that members of the family to +which he belongs, now naturalized on our own coasts, +first travelled hither amongst the meshes of their +ocean raft, which knew no return. Such specimens as +have been procured on the coasts of England, are not +as large or brilliant in their colour, as those captured in +more genial climes.</p> + +<p>The Floating Crabs, as met with in true gulf streams, +are extremely pretty little creatures, measuring about +eight-tenths of an inch in length. They are clouded +and shaded with rich warm brown, yellow, and buff, +and well deserve the consideration of the lover of +natural history.</p> + +<p>The almost innumerable channels stretching between +the coral reefs, lagunes, and palm-clad islands of the +Southern Seas are inhabited by legions of Crabs of next +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>to endless species and varieties. Many of these feed +luxuriously on the vast numbers of “Trepang,” or sea +slug (<i>Holotharia edulis</i>) found in these latitudes. The +human crab industriously seeks his share of this half-grub, +half-slug, delicacy, and some account of its nature +and mode of preparation may not prove unacceptable +to the reader. The <i>Bêche-de-mer</i>, as this uninviting +looking creature is called by the traders who deal in it, +is in immense request in nearly every market in the +Chinese empire, as a stock ingredient to be used in the +preparation of the rich, glutinous soups and stews, in +which the Celestials so much delight. They are also +extensively used to mix with little squares of salt +pork, sharks’ fins, and pickled bamboo shoots; when +thus combined, served up as a stew, and accompanied +by diminutive cups of hot “sam shoo,” or rice spirit, +John Chinaman, when fortunate enough to get it, +yields himself to gastronomic enjoyment, and cares not +to call the most important mandarin in the empire, his +uncle. As there are brands of high repute amongst +wine producers, so are there <i>high</i> and <i>low</i> class <i>slugs</i> in +the sea’s great larder, and there are six kinds well +known in the trade.</p> + +<p>The best are those procured by divers, who prosecute +their labours amongst the deep recesses between +the reefs, where the water is always of considerable +depth. The next quality is taken by nocturnal hunting-parties, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>who sally forth, torch in hand, and thread +the intricate mazes amongst the coral ponds and lagunes, +making night hideous by their fiendish shouts, and +wild, weird proceedings. The bright moon-light nights +so enjoyable within the tropics, are also taken advantage +of, for slug-catching purposes, when great quantities +of average worth are not unfrequently procured. The +inferior sorts are usually gathered by the idlers and +children of the islands, who wander about in the rock +pools left by the receding tide, and pick up all they +can there discover. The trader obtains the various +kinds and qualities from the slug-hunters, and at once +proceeds to select them according to their market value. +Benches are erected, on which they are first cut open +with sharp knives, cleansed, and placed without water +in very large cauldrons to cook. The juices thrown +out by the Trepang are sufficient to prepare him in, and +prevent his becoming too dry in the kettle stage of the +operation.</p> + +<p>From the boiling department they are removed to +large wooden sheds, erected for drying them in. Here +they are arranged on shelves placed one over the other, +where they are constantly turned and most carefully +attended to; huge wood fires being kept burning to +expedite the process, as it is essential that the slugs +should be completely freed from even the slightest suspicion +of moisture before they are packed for deposit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>on board ship. Comparatively few persons have any idea +of the immense commercial importance to be attached +to this branch of industry; but some rough notion +of the enormous number of these questionable-looking +dainties annually collected by the Trepang catchers may +be formed, when we state, that a single trader from America +obtained, during a bartering expedition amongst +the Fejee group of islands, in return for the issue of +miscellaneous articles and objects of trade, representing +no very great value, 25,000 dollars’ worth of Trepang +in seven months. And in order to still further show +that even this repulsive and insignificant-looking sea-worm +is worthy of the consideration of the “grave and +staid merchant,” we give the financial return made on +one voyage prosecuted for its obtainment:—Peculs⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> of +slugs obtained, 1,200; cost of goods and outfit, 3,500 +dollars; money return on sales effected, 27,000 dollars. +The value of the prepared slugs in the markets of the +East may be said to range between ten and sixty dollars +per pecul, according to condition, demand, and quality. +Advantages even greater than the direct acquisition of +money have resulted from this peculiar trade. Discoveries +have been made of islands, unknown until the +adventurous traders landed on them; and commercial +pursuits have been successfully prosecuted with tribes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>who, in all probability, would have remained hostile to +Europeans for ages to come, had not that humble missionary, +the sea-slug, opened up the road to friendship, +well-reposed trust, and business relationship.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> A <i>Pecul</i> weighs 133⅓ lbs., and is a weight common throughout +the Southern and Eastern seas.</p></div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="SHRIMPS_AND_PRAWNS"> + SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS. + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Like our friends the crabs, these are of many species, +and inhabit every sea from pole to pole. Our own +coast line is pretty generally occupied by them, and +very few places of seaside resort fail in affording sport +to the Shrimp or Prawn catcher. An error, into which +many persons fall, is the confounding of Shrimps and +Prawns with each other, although the differences between +their general form and appearance are sufficiently +marked to strike the most casual observer. The true +Shrimp of our waters is the mottled spotted-brown +kind, the so-called Sand Shrimp (<i>Crangon vulgaris</i>) +the subject of the annexed cut. Besides the difference +in colour and the hooked form of the fore-feet, the +tremendously formidable-looking weapon with which +the head of the Prawn is provided, and from which +the Pacific Islanders appear to have borrowed the +design for their shark-tooth swords, is absent in <i>C. vulgaris</i>. +Its favourite haunts are the wide, open sand +flats and the mouths of tidal rivers. The name “sand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>raiser,” often applied to it by fishermen, is by no means +inappropriate, and arises from the curious habit it has +of suddenly raising a perfect cloud of fine sand, round +itself—firing, so to speak, “a broadside for the sake of +the smoke,” and literally throwing dust in the eyes of +his enemies.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p074" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p074.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>This designing little Genius, after raising his own +sand storm, adroitly scoops for himself a tiny trench in +the soft material on which he rests, and then remaining +perfectly still, allows the falling grains to cover him +snugly in, like a sheep in a snow-drift. Great numbers +of Shrimps of this kind, as well as small flat fish, and +an endless number of odd waifs and strays, can be +taken with the dredge—a contrivance shown in the +following cut. The framework is of iron, the two +straight bars or bridle rods are made so as to play +freely round the end bars of the frame, as at <i>a</i>, whilst +a sort of hinge joint admits of their moving up or +down, thus insuring close contact between the lower +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>edge of the frame and the bottom, as it is dragged +along by a rope, either lowered from a boat or attached +to a horse. The extreme end, or purse of the net, is +made to untie like the mouth of a bag as at <span class="allsmcap">B</span>, which +greatly facilitates the removal of its contents when +overhauling is needed. The two rings, <span class="allsmcap">C C</span>, serve to +attach the drag rope to.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p075" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p075.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>An apparatus constructed much on the same general +principles, and known as the <i>keer drag</i>, is also in much +use. A beam of wood and a set of “<i>yoke lines</i>” serve +to keep the body of the net distended, and the purse is +secured with a few turns of twine. The dredge we have +figured and described may have a much shorter <i>bag</i> of +very strong network attached to it, if the nature of the +ground dredged over, and the kind of productions +sought, should render it necessary. The net we have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>represented is mainly intended for the taking of small +crustaceans, and such other odds and ends of animal +and vegetable life, as may be found on smooth ground +and the open sand flats. There are a number of patterns +for dredges, more or less complicated, to be obtained +from their respective inventors. The reader may +perchance wish to design one for himself. Let him, +however, bear in mind that simplicity of construction, +and thoroughly good iron, are two important elements +of successful manufacture, durability, and general +usefulness.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p076" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p076.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p078" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p078.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The seaside visitor not possessed of one of these +contrivances will find such a net as that figured in the +above cut extremely useful and amusing. It can be +made at a very trifling cost, and is easily repaired +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>when broken. In using it the Shrimp fisherman wades +steadily onward, and pushes his net steadily before him +until it is supposed that the contents are sufficiently +abundant, when they are taken out and fresh research +commenced. The rugged rock-strewn shores of many +parts of the coast of England, Ireland, and the Channel +Islands, require fishing in an entirely different manner, +both by pole and hoop-nets. The pole-net as shown in +the following cut, is a most efficient instrument for the +capture of the different kinds of Prawns and other +small crustaceans found in the rock-pools, bays, and +inlets of the coast line. The frame supporting the bag +of the net should be of sound tough iron, and of flat +form, but slightly turned up at the point, as at <span class="allsmcap">A</span>. A +slight groove, like the fullering of a horse-shoe, must +extend entirely round both the under and upper surfaces, +in order to form a secure rest for a stout piece of +copper bell-wire, with which the bag of the net is +secured to the frame. Small holes are now to be drilled +at short intervals all round the frame in the bottom of +the groove, so that the wire may be passed up and +down through them, and so fasten on the net, the +bottom of which must be so fashioned and constricted +in making, as to terminate in the purse <span class="allsmcap">B</span>. The pole <span class="allsmcap">C</span> +is best made of well-seasoned ash, and should be at +least twelve feet long, and bent as at <span class="allsmcap">D</span>. This is easily +done by heat, as ox-bows and many other objects are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>formed. When Shrimping with the pole-net, it is a +good plan to carry a rough, fork-ended wand, with +which to probe crevices between rocks, too small or +narrow to admit the net. The largest Prawns often +take advantage of such retreats, and dart into them +on the least alarm. It is well before wading into a +promising-looking pool, to cast a sharp, scrutinising +glance into it, when the Prawns will frequently be seen, +out of their haunts, sailing about amongst the weeds +and ledges with extraordinary grace and elegance of +movement, their long feelers and hair-like antennæ +spreading out and waving in ceaseless play. By introducing +the net cautiously, a number of these gadabouts +may be taken before sufficient disturbance is +caused to send them off to their lurking-places, to +which, when really alarmed, they shoot with the speed +of an arrow. The fugitives generally seek a place of +concealment as near the surface as possible, and it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>well, therefore, to seek high up for them. As a dress +for shrimping we strongly recommend a wool shirt, +tweed jacket and trousers, wide, felt hat, woollen socks, +and a pair of easy shoes in which there are plenty of +holes for the water to run out through. A good +number of narrow-headed, steel nails should be driven +into both soles and heels, in order to prevent slipping +on the sloping rock-faces, which, when coated with +weeds, are far more difficult to maintain a footing on +than ice. Never take a watch, keys, or a pocket-knife +of any value with you when you go to shrimp, or they +will be rusted to a certainty; but a common knife, and +a good store of twine for repairs are essentials. Bags +and over-handled baskets are both very inconvenient +receptacles for such Prawns or Shrimps as you may be +fortunate enough to catch—the bags getting wet and +hanging about you in an uncomfortable and chilling +manner, whilst the baskets appear to take a malignant +pleasure in upsetting themselves in some uncomfortable +manner, whenever they are left to themselves, +even for a few minutes. Nothing is equal to the ordinary +creel carried by the river fisherman. A broad +piece of woollen web, such as race-horses’ circingales +are made of, forms an excellent shoulder-strap, and is +far better for the purpose than leather.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p080" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p080.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>As in crab-catching, advantage should be taken of +very low tides, and a very sharp look-out kept for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>Prawns when the young flood begins to make its +approach, as all ocean life is then in full activity. The +<i>Hoop net</i> before referred to, and represented in the +annexed illustration, is used in a very different manner +from that just described. Instead of being worked +by hand, it is first baited with offal and then deposited +in the bottom of such pools as are likely to contain +Prawns. A considerable number of these nets are +often taken out for use by one fisherman, who uses a +long, fork-ended, pole, for laying down and taking them +up; the cork bung, or float, which indicates their +whereabouts, serving as a sort of button for the fork +of the pole to lift them by, as at <span class="allsmcap">A</span>. The hoop and net +are kept in a proper position by being suspended like +a scale pan by three or more cords. Iron or wood may +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>be used for making the hoops, and a stone placed +amongst the bait keeps the net steadily at the bottom. +Nets of this kind are, in certain localities, used from +boats. Shrimp-fisheries of great commercial importance +exist in many localities for the supply of the London +and other great markets, and it is only necessary to +reflect for an instant on the enormous quantities of these +crustaceans eaten every day in the almost endless tea-gardens, +supper-rooms, and places of public resort in and +about London alone, to be convinced that the consumption +of shrimps is truly enormous. Billingsgate teems +with them. Sieves worked by nimble hands separate +the large from the small, and draw the “<i>ad valorem</i>” +distinction between <i>St. James</i> and <i>St. Giles</i>. Those +coral-like aristocrats, the true Prawns of the family +(<i>Palæmon serratus</i>), are not subjected to the ignoble +standard of measurement, but are counted carefully +and grudgingly out, like a king’s ransom, and estimated +by the dozen. Yet it not unfrequently happens that +<i>P. serratus</i> in his infancy and youth, so far associates +himself with plebeian company as to be boiled in the +same pot with his less distinguished associates. (Here +we might moralize, but space forbids.) Mixed with a +heterogeneous crew of captured crustaceans of many +grades, and the water torture gone through, P. S., like +many other young gentlemen wearing jackets of a +different colour, loses all individuality, and is ignominiously +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>classed among “<i>cup shrimps</i>,” measured out +in a vulgar tin half-pint, vended by a costermonger +and eaten by a sweep. The countless thousands thus +disposed of are not taken with the appliances which a +pleasure-seeker or amateur would make use of, but are +caught by regular network engines fitted out for the +purpose, and worked from boats; and if a stray +salmon or two will blunder stupidly into the meshes, <i>to +the extreme annoyance of the owners</i>, what can H.M.’s +Fishery Commissioners do, but pity their wayward flock +for straying into the toils of the shrimp-wolf, and +coming to an untimely end in consequence? It should +be borne in mind that live shrimps are excellent baits +for a number of sea and river fish. The perch, although +usually classed among fresh-water fish, delights in a +“sniff of the briney.” Brackish water he glories, +revels, and thrives in; show him a nice fresh shrimp, +and see how soon he becomes your humble servant. +Grey mullet, too, have a weakness for shrimp enticements, +and we know of no more deadly bait for the +lordly salmon, than a freshly-caught Prawn. If any +proof of its excellence for this purpose is needed, we +have only to advise the sceptic to try it, by trolling as +with a minnow. The principal food of <i>Salmo salar</i> +and some other migratory members of the family <i>salmonidæ</i>, +when on their long sea voyages, mainly consists +of crustacea, and the countless myriads of opossum +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>shrimps (<i>Mysis vulgaris</i>) peopling the Northern and +Arctic seas, serve to furnish food for the vast shoals +of these fish, during their annual visits and migrations +to salt water. “The Whalebone,” “Right,” or Greenland +Whale, would soon become as extinct as the mastadon, +if any shrimp-disease should, in an untimely manner, +carry off the lively little opossum. Away among the +ice-fields of the far north, where the drifting floes and +crashing bergs drift onward before the gale, and +where, as winter sets in, the polar bears and Arctic +foxes, feel hard times, and are at a loss for a dinner, +our huge leviathan acquaintance, the whale, holds high +festival; merely opening his cavernous mouth wide +enough for a deluge of water to rush in, and then by +a sudden effort, sending it out again, through the +numerous strainers and fringes, with which nature has +gifted him.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“The sounds and seas, each creek and bay,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Of fish that with their fins and shining scales</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Bank the mid-sea: part single or with mate</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Graze, the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Of coral stray; or sporting with quick glance,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Show to the sun their waved coats dropped with gold</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In jointed armour watch; on smooth the seal</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Tempest the ocean: there leviathan,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hugest of living creatures, on the deep,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Stretched like a promontory, sleeps or swims,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And seems a moving land; and at his gills</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out a sea.”</div> + </div> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Milton.</span> +</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The water passes freely through, but the poor little +opossums, by the peck, are left behind, to help in +building up the material by the aid of which the goddess +of fashion contrives to maintain such an exceedingly +good figure. But if the whale devours his legions +of opossums, he has not, big as he is, matters all his own +way. There is a little crustacean (<i>Cyamus ceti</i>) so much +attached to him, that like the old man of the sea, who, +when once established on Sinbad’s back could not by +ordinary means be induced to come off again, appears +quite content with matters as they are, and nibbles +away at the skin of his gigantic steed, just as his +appetite may require. Thus enjoying all the advantages +of noble company, free travelling, and a permanent +residence on his own dining-table.</p> + +<p>Unlike the ordinary shrimps who carry their eggs +about with them but for a time, the opossums carry +theirs until the young are sufficiently developed to +shift for themselves, when a peculiar valve-like, +trap-door arrangement is caused to open, and the +young shrimp fry, start in the world of waters, and +seek for themselves their own maintenance. Arctic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>voyagers who are conversant with the habits of shrimps, +and who have a knowledge of the peculiarities of <i>M. +vulgaris</i>, do not heedlessly trust their salt junk over +the side to soak, fearing lest their experiences might +be like those of the Norse skipper, who, in a spirit of +maritime recklessness, lowered the dinner of his ship’s +company to the ocean’s depths, and hauled up, much +to his consternation and disgust, a well-nibbled string +instead. The opossums and their relations had eaten +the rest.</p> + +<p>The Indian and Chinese seas yield an endless +variety of both the shrimp and prawn families, the +latter of a size far beyond anything we see in our +more frigid waters (<i>Palæmon carcinus</i>), common to the +Indian Ocean and some of the great rivers flowing into +it, not unfrequently reaching a foot in length. Those +usually sold in the Indian markets are not as large +as these, but are still of sufficient size to render them +highly attractive; and those who, like us, have eaten +prawns in the East, prepared by those who know the +secrets of the art, will bear away the remembrance of +their flavour as an agreeable souvenir. That is, if the +said prawns happen to be free from the curious, and +little understood fish poison, with which the denizens +of Tropic seas are too often encumbered. In favoured +England, no such drawback to the full enjoyment of +your prawn-feast need exist; the common difficulty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>being the obtainment of a sufficient quantity to +enjoy.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p086" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p086.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>Many of the rivers emptying themselves into the +Carribean Sea, after flowing through Florida, contain +at their mouths, within the influence of the salt water, +Prawns of very large size. These have been improperly +called “<i>The crawfish of America</i>,” but they +are true members of the Prawn family (<i>Palæmon +setiferus</i>); many of these measure between seven and +eight inches in length, and like their relatives in other +seas, are by no means bad to eat. Many of our readers +will no doubt have observed, when engaged in the +pleasant operation of shelling their bright scarlet +Prawns, before eating them, that on the carapace of one +here and there, exists an oval, bladder-like projection, as +though some smooth, transparent, univalve shell, had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>there closely attached itself. This contains a parasite +crustacean. On raising the horny cap, beneath which +it shelters, the intruder may be discovered keeping fast +hold of the branchiæ, or gills of the prawn, who appears +to suffer no inconvenience, or injury, from the presence of +his companion. This curious little creature is the <i>Bopyrus +crangorum</i> of naturalists; the foregoing illustration +represents the common Prawn (<i>P. serratus</i>), with the +parasite attached to it. The shrimp form is not exclusively +confined to the sea and tidal rivers. Fresh +water lakes, ponds, and streams in many parts of the +world have their shrimp tenants of one kind or +another, many of them highly noteworthy for the +beauty of their organization. The fairy shrimp (<i>Chirocephalus +diaphanus</i>) is a well-marked example. This +elegant little creature is occasionally met with in the +fresh water ponds and pools of this country, and can at +times be obtained in the neighbourhood of London. +Its first appearance strikes the examiner as being most +remarkable. The ordinary position assumed by most +aquatic creatures, is not to his taste or fancy, so he +swims on his back, rising to the surface or sinking +away into deep water, just as his will may direct, and +gliding here and there, like some tiny elfin boat +endowed with vitality. Its colours are most charming +and exquisite, clear and transparent, of a delicate sea-green +hue; it floats like a shadow through the water, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>whilst its host of fringed feet, wave and undulate like +growing corn, as they send the passing current through +them, and by their ciliary movement, glean the +particles of nutritive matter floating by. Its long, +bright, red horns and tail serve as a foil to set off the +other beauties which nature has so lavishly bestowed. +The fairy shrimp rarely exceeds an inch in length, and +when placed in a vase of clear water forms a most +pleasing object for contemplation.</p> + +<p>In the pools and ditches of our lanes and fields, we +find another curious little crustacean creature, <i>Apus productus</i>, +who differs entirely from that already described, +in almost every habit but that of swimming on his back. +In some localities the stagnant waters swarm with countless +myriads of these odd little animals, who have the +uncomfortable habit of burying their heads and bodies +in the sand or mud, and leaving their ridiculous little +tails waving about in the water, like the pendants of +sunken wrecks. <i>A. productus</i> appears to enter on the +responsibilities of life under more than ordinarily disadvantageous +circumstances, being born with only one +eye, half a shell-jacket, and, hardest of all, without a tail. +All these deficiencies, however, are made up in time, and +<i>A. productus</i> flourishes. He is extremely fond of tadpoles, +and in the season usually obtains a fair share of his +favourite provender. The spawn of both frogs and toads +he has a weakness for; but Nemesis, in the form of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>water-wagtail, is rarely far off; and as he trots daintily +along with his delicate claws in the water and his tail +in ceaseless movement, depend on it that the beak is +not idle, and that the family of <i>A. P.</i> is paying the +penalty by wholesale.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p090" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p090.png" alt=""> +</figure> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_COMMON_ENGLISH_LOBSTER"> + THE COMMON ENGLISH LOBSTER, + <br> + (<i>Homarus vulgaris</i>) + </h2> +</div> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p091" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p091.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>As seen on the marble slab of the fishmonger, is very +unlike his relatives beneath the waves. The curled up +form in which he is seen when so exposed is not that +usually assumed in its own element, unless in the act +of exerting its immense powers of retrograde motion. +These are so great that one sudden downward sweep of +its curiously constructed, oar-like tail, is sufficient to +send it like an arrow, three or four-and-twenty feet, +with the most extraordinary precision, thereby enabling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>our friend to retreat with the greatest rapidity into +nooks, corners, and crevices among the rocks, where +pursuit would be hopeless. His eyes being arranged +on foot stalks, or stems, are free from the inconvenient +trammels of sockets, and possess a radius of vision +commanding both front and rear, and from their compound +form (being made up of a number of square lenses) +are extremely penetrating and powerful. The slightest +shadow passing over the pool in which the lobster may +chance to be crawling or swimming, will frequently +cause one of these sudden backward shoots to be made, +and <i>H. vulgaris</i> vanishes into some cleft or cavity with +a rapidity of motion which no harlequin could ever, +even in his wildest dreams, hope to achieve. Down +among the deep channels, between the crags at the +sea’s bottom, alarms, except from the sea robbers +themselves, are not to be dreaded. Here the lobsters +are at home, and in such spots the wicker-trap, before +described and figured, or the trunk-net represented in +the above cut, may be laid down for them. Nets of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>this kind are in general use. They are made by fastening +a number of stout, wooden hoops to longitudinal +bars, and covering them with network. Their internal +construction is much like that of the crab-pot, only +there are two entrances instead of one, and twine is +used in lieu of willows or twigs to prevent the prisoners +from escaping. Heavy stones are attached to +them as sinkers. Fish offal is used as bait, and corks +at the end of lines serve to point out their position +and haul them up by. Lobsters are prolific creatures, +and it is well that they are so, considering the enormous +quantities consumed every day in England alone.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p092" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p092.png" alt=""> +</figure> +<br> +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p093" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p093.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>It has been computed that each fully-matured female +will produce from 18,000 to 20,000 eggs, and there is +little doubt but that with proper management and the +expenditure of a very small capital, artificial fecundation +of the ova of crustaceans might be most successfully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>and profitably conducted in this country. Much +attention has of late been paid to this subject in France, +and many most interesting experiments in connexion +with it have been tried. The annexed cut represents a +set of chambers, or troughs, which were erected in the +<i>College de France</i>, Paris, for the hatching of the eggs of +the various crustacea. 1 is the reservoir in which the +water is placed; this runs through the tap, 2, into a +series of glass troughs in which gravel has been placed; +3, 3, 3, through which it flows and then discharges +itself into the main receiver, 4. This apparatus, although +very neat and ornamental, is far more costly than there +is any need for. Such a contrivance as that represented +in the above illustration can be readily put +up for a few shillings, and will be found to answer +every practical requirement as perfectly as the more +costly arrangement, <span class="allsmcap">A</span>, is a common tub in which a +wooden tap is fixed; <span class="allsmcap">B</span>, is a series of shallow earthenware +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>dishes, or pans with lips, such as are sold at +almost all earthenware shops for domestic use. The +stands may be made from a few boards and fir poles +nailed together; very little ingenuity is needed to enable +any cottager to hatch out his own young crustaceans +from the egg. The common river cray-fish has been +extensively propagated artificially, and there appears +no limit to the extent to which fish-hatching in all its +branches may be carried by the industrious. There +appears, comparatively, little trouble in the early stages +of the process—the eggs of the female being placed on +gravel at the bottom of the pans. The seed of the +male fish is then laid on it, and, in due time, favoured +by gentle streams of sea-water constantly flowing, the +young crustaceans come forth. In rearing them it must +be borne in mind that as their food, when in a state of +nature, mainly consists of marine worms, fish spawn, +and the lesser crustacea, food of a suitable character must +be provided until the young nurselings are old enough +to turn out in the sea pools to shift for themselves. +Our space will not admit of our dealing at any length +with this subject, and the few hints we have given are +mainly intended to show that important results in this +branch of national wealth may be arrived at by the use +of very simple means and appliances. The number of +Lobsters brought every season to Billingsgate Market +will serve to give some idea of the importance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>Lobster-fishing, and the sums of money which must +change hands in connexion with it. Calculations +show that from the coasts of England, Ireland, Scotland, +and the Channel Islands, 150,000 Lobsters per +season reach Billingsgate Market, exclusive of the supply +of Norway Lobsters (<i>Nephrops norvegicus</i>), as represented +in the accompanying illustration. These are +even more abundantly supplied, and over 600,000 per +season are imported. It not unfrequently happens +that one day’s supply for that great emporium of sea +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>dainties reaches as high as 25,000; and here at early +morning, long before mighty London is fairly up for +the day, a scene of bustle and activity may be witnessed +which well repays the early riser—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Double-double, toil and trouble,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Steam in clouds floats above the vast loads of newly-boiled +crustaceans and molluscs; carts of every size and +pattern block the way, from the castellated conveyances +of Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, to the humble donkey +shallow: ice, in saw-dusty bales, is jostled against +orange-boxes; figs and codfish greet each other like old +friends, whilst West India pineapples, haddocks, oysters, +and Spanish chestnuts appear determined to make a +day of it and go off together.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p095" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p095.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The popularity of the Lobster extends far beyond the +limits of our island, and he travels about to all parts of +the known world, like an imprisoned spirit soldered up +in an air-tight box. It has been said that during the +Indian war a box of regimental stores belonging to our +forces fell into the hands of the enemy, who thinking +that a great capture of some kind of deadly and destructive +ammunition had been made, rammed the painted +tin cases, with goodly charges of powder behind them, +into their immense guns, laid them steadily on the +devoted British troops, and then with a flash and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>thundering roar, preserved lobster, from Fortnum and +Mason’s, was scattered far and wide over the battlefield. +Fishermen declare that thunder or the reports +of artillery causes the lobsters in the store boxes or +wells, in which they are brought alive to market, to +suddenly cast off their large claws, just as the crabs do +in their battles with each other; a smart blow will +cause a lobster to throw off a damaged claw, and thus +stop bleeding in the manner before described.</p> + +<p>The regular Lobster season may be said approximately +to last from the month of March to August. About +the middle or latter end of the last-mentioned month +the shifting of shells takes place, and the fish is unfit +for human food; but, like silkworms after a change of +skin, they commence feeding in the most voracious +manner directly the new garment is durable enough to +admit of their taking their walks abroad, and their +temporary seclusion and compulsory abstinence is amply +made up for by a course of heavy feeding. The lost +plumpness and condition soon return, and the winter +season furnishes Lobsters equal in goodness and flavour +to any caught “in <i>high lobster time</i>.” It has been +remarked by many experienced shell-fish dealers that +the Lobster is exceedingly local in its habits, and there +are some who profess to be able to recognise the natives of +particular localities by their general appearance and the +colour of their shells. Unlike some crustaceans who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>are coldly indifferent to the welfare of their offspring, +the mamma Lobster keeps her little brood about her +until the youthful lobsterkins are big enough to start +in life for themselves.</p> + +<p>The coasts of British North America, as well as +many portions of the sea board of the United States, +abound in mail-clad inhabitants of many kinds. In +some localities great amusement is at times afforded by +their capture—a sort of <i>pic-nic</i> or <i>lobster frolic</i> being +organised. A boat with plenty of eatables, drinkables, +and a capacious cooking pot are provided, and long +poles with their ends split (much as the extremities of +clothes-pins are fashioned) prepared. On the boat or +skiff being propelled slowly through the shallow water, +a sharp look-out is kept on the regions below, and on the +Lobster being discovered, the split end of the pole is +lowered quietly, and with the greatest caution, until +just over the unsuspecting victim’s back, when by a +sudden downward thrust, the forceps like instrument +securely nips him, and he is brought to the surface in +spite of his claws and the pinches he inflicts on the +tough, unyielding wood. Some overhanging rock, or +pleasant nook on the shore, is usually selected as a +place in which to dine and cook the proceeds of the +Lobster hunt. The driftwood and such dry sticks and +shrubs as the neighbourhood will afford, are used as fuel +to boil the pot, and the revels proceed right joyously. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>The bays, shallows, and mouths of rivers on the coast +of Prince Edward’s Island, abound in a species of sea-weed, +known amongst the inhabitants as “<i>eel grass</i>;” +on this vast numbers of Lobsters feed as in a rich sea +garden. To these favoured hunting-grounds the Lobster-catchers +betake themselves, and by wading little more +than half-leg deep gather as many as they require. A +bushel basket has been filled in this way in less than +an hour.</p> + +<p>Like the branching growths of sub-marine life which +form the connecting link between the vegetable and +animal kingdoms, we find crustaceans, dwelling, so to +speak, on the border lands of other races, and linking +the shrimp, crab, and lobster families together; partaking +of the nature of each, but being identical +with neither: such are the so-called <i>squat lobsters</i> or +<i>Galathea</i>. Three well-marked kinds are to be met +with more or less abundantly; these are the <i>Olive squats</i> +(<i>G. squamifera</i>), the <i>scarlet squat</i> (<i>G. nexa</i>), and the +<i>painted squat</i> (<i>G. strigosa</i>); all these are of comparatively +small size, the largest or painted description +rarely exceeding three and a half inches in length. +The singular alertness of all the race renders capture +somewhat difficult. Like the lobsters they possess +extraordinary powers of vision and retrograde movement. +The horns are extremely long, and so sensitive +that the slightest touch seems to reveal at once the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>nature of an approaching object, and enables the +alarmed squat to seek a safe sanctuary between the +rock clefts, from which, he is by no means easy to withdraw.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p100" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p100.png" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The spined lobster (<i>Palinurus vulgaris</i>), <i>crawfish</i>, +<i>cray</i>, or <i>crowder</i>, will from its thorn-coated shell, long +horns, powerful nippers, and generally formidable +appearance, be familiar to most of our readers. Like +most other crustaceans the Cray delights in a home +among rugged sunken rocks, and is taken in the traps +laid down for ordinary lobsters and crabs. It not +unfrequently happens whilst line-fishing over sunken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>reefs, or on rocky ground, that, on a bite being felt and +the line drawn in, a steady drag is felt as though a +cuttlefish had grasped the bait; on looking down into +sea beneath the boat, in all probability the Cray will be +seen in all his spined armament, coming on at the end +of the line like a sea porcupine with horns. Some +care will be needed to coax him deftly onward until the +net is well under, or your line and Cray are likely to +part company. These thorn-clad heroes, “in their +spiked armour like Egyptian <i>porke pigs</i>,” are not held +in as high esteem for the table as their more smoothly-plated +relations—their flesh being of harder texture +and of a sweet flavour is objected to by professed +lobster-eaters; still, to our taste, a well-conditioned +“<i>porke pig</i>,” the shape of a Crayfish, is by no means +to be despised. Some portions of the Pacific Ocean, +and the warm seas of the East, contain them in vast +numbers. Many spots on the coast of South America, +and the bays and inlets of the island of Juan Fernandez, +literally swarm with them; and it is to be questioned +whether Robinson Crusoe, or Man Friday either, would +have ever consented to leave that fertile and picturesque +locality if they had entertained the least idea that it +was surrounded by countless thousands of Crays in a +perfect fever of anxiety as to whose good fortune it +would be to get boiled first.</p> + +<p>Some idea may be formed of the abundance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>animated creatures of this and other kinds to be +taken in these seas, by the following account of the +fishing to be obtained in them, given by the Hon. +F. Walpole:—“The fishing afforded the best return +for labour, and a boat might be filled in four hours +with hook and line only. Fish swarmed of every size +and colour, and seemingly of every variety of appetite, +for they took any bait. The bottom was literally lined +with Crawfish of a large size; some must have weighed +five pounds at least. There needed no hook—a piece +of anything let down on a string to the bottom was +enough; they saw it, grasped it, and kept their hold +till you had seized them by their long feelers and borne +them into the boat, where they crawled about and +extended their feelers as if in search of more bait. +The Conger eels, which were almost as numerous as +the Crawfish, were great enemies to us, for they took +up time in the catching, and their execution, which +followed immediately, was a work of some skill—Gordian +knots, twists, and all manner of wriggles being +used to evade the knife raised to slay them, and frequently +their powerful teeth enabled them to bite +through the wire and escape with hook, bait, and line. +Catching Crawfish was one of the favourite amusements +of the seamen. One man held a pole, on which +was fastened a bait thrown into the water near the +beach; one or two others stood ready, and when the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>Crawfish, allured by the bait, had approached within +attainable distance, those dogs of war pounced upon +him, and he was high and dry upon the beach before +he had even meditated a retreat. The boat-keepers in +the boats alongside used to let down pieces of net +spread on the hoops of a cask, with pieces of bait +inside them. In a few minutes these were hauled up, +and one of our simple friends appeared seated, greatly +enjoying the travelling. Sometimes two or three came +up struggling for standing room. But enough of Crawfish, +I will only add that we thoroughly enjoyed both +the catching and the eating. We had crawfish for +breakfast, crawfish for dinner, crawfish for supper, and +crawfish for any incidental meal we could cram in +between. The last I saw of my friends was with their +long feelers wreathing about, as they were borne about +Valparaiso as presents on our return.”</p> + +<p>We learn from the old authors that Apicius, after +profoundly studying the culinary art at Minturnus, in +Campania, where he feasted right royally on Crawfish, +in order, it is said, to strengthen and improve the +appetite—at length feeling that change of scene and +provender were needed, and opportunely hearing that +Craws of marvellous size and surpassing excellence +were captured on the coast of Africa, the sage knew no +rest until he had obtained a ship and had set sail for +that favoured land. The voyage proved prosperous, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>and, as might be reasonably anticipated, as the shore +was neared a sea-earned appetite of more than ordinary +intensity set in, and the philosopher’s first thoughts +rested on the delicious crustaceans he had journeyed so +far to enjoy. The dusky fishers, roused into bustle +and activity by the august arrival, soon brought the +spoils of their crawfish hunt, rejoicing no doubt at +their quick success; but the Craws were found, like +most other things when made the subject of long +anticipation, by no means equal to the exaggerated +standard, and were contemptuously sent with their +owners to the right-about, orders being given that +larger specimens might be immediately brought. On +being informed that to do so would be impossible, +Apicius at once expressed his supreme contempt for +Africa, Crawfish, and all else, ordered his pilot to attend, +and gave directions for instant departure for Italy.</p> + +<p>Pliny speaks of Crawfish of such huge dimensions, +“<i>four cubits long</i>,” that we are almost led to believe +they must have been the creation of a wild, distempered +dream rather than substantial realities.</p> + +<p>The tables of ancient Rome were often garnished +with dishes of Crawfish served with asparagus; and it +is our decided opinion that many worse things are +daily partaken of by the gourmands of this enlightened +age, notwithstanding the much-vaunted march of +improvement in cookery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> + +<p>The coral reefs fringing the island of Mauritius afford +shelter to members of the family of <i>Palinurus</i>, which +in both size and splendour of colouring far excel those +taken in our seas. Some we had an opportunity of +examining when freshly caught, by the fishermen of that +fertile isle, looked so much like works of art that we +could almost fancy Pallisey, that king of potters, must +have returned to life, and that these were some of his +choicest productions. Some were of delicate sea-green +banded with white and ultra-marine blue, alternately. +Others were striped with pale yellow, black, and green, +whilst all were so highly glazed, and carried such a +brilliant polish, that we deeply regretted the perishable +nature of living things, and sighed as we reflected on +the waste of so much loveliness on the more than half-heathen +crew of Malabar coolies who grinned and chattered +round the captives, and who had no appreciation +whatever for crustacean perfection, except in association +with rice and a brass cooking-pot.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_p106" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p106.png" alt=""> +</figure> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_COMMON_RIVER_CRAYFISH"> + THE COMMON RIVER CRAYFISH. + <br> + (<i>Astacus fluviatilis.</i>) + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>This little crustacean is very abundant in many of the +rivers of England, although it is by no means as general +as might be anticipated from its habits and mode +of life. Rivulets and rivers in which clear streams +flow, are its favourite resort, and the holes amongst +the roots of trees, stones, or banks beneath the water, +form snug retreats for it. It is somewhat strange that +in the western portion of England, where running +streams abound, the fresh water Cray is (except by +name) unknown. Its food consists of animal substances, +the spawn of fish, vegetable matter, the +larvæ of water insects, &c. The rich scarlet colour +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>assumed after boiling makes the Cray a great favourite +for garnishing purposes; pic-nic parties are often +formed for the sport afforded in taking them. Long +sticks or rods with cord lines, to which pieces of bait +are tied, are made use of to allure the Cray within the +reach of a small hand-net, when he is scooped out; some +enterprising anglers endeavour to throw them over their +heads without using the net, others in their anxiety to +inveigle the coquettish crustacean, slip on some slippery +tree-trunk or moss-grown stone, and pay an unwilling +visit to the home of the Crays at the bottom. +Pinched fingers and other small catastrophes serve but +to add to the general fun and hilarity of the river-side +revellers. In some of the West India Islands torchlight +expeditions of a like character are made to the +streams flowing from the hills, and the Crays lifted +out, after having been previously treated to pieces of +<i>manioc</i>-root abundantly cast in the water for them. +This substance has the property of stupefying such +shell-fish as are silly enough to eat it, and the Cray +pays the penalty of his too unsuspicious disposition. +The rivers of France are abundantly supplied with +<i>Ecrevisses</i>, as they are called in that country; enormous +numbers are eaten every day in Paris, and the other +large cities and towns of the continent. They are +prepared in various ways for the table, and the celebrated +<i>potage à la bisque</i> is made from them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + +<p>A number of methods are had recourse to for their +capture, amongst which may be mentioned the sinking +by stones, in localities known to abound with them, +rough bundles of thorn-sticks, with offal of some +description fastened up in them. The Crays, in their +attempts to obtain the dainty tit-bits, force their way +through the entangled twigs, and are unable to retreat +with sufficient speed to escape being drawn out when +the Cray-catcher hooks out his treacherous <i>fascine</i>. +Small pieces of frog are highly esteemed baits. These +are laid down in considerable numbers along the course +of the stream, and are after some time visited, and the +feasting Crays brought to bag. Some persons are +sufficiently indifferent to the nips they receive as to +insert the hand and arm beneath the roots and hollow +banks, and so drag forth their prey. There are other +methods for Cray capture, but most of them depend +on the use of bait placed in traps, much like those +used for prawns, or some contrivance where entrance is +easy and exit difficult, and it is remarkable that in every +country in the known world the same principle is taken +advantage of, in the construction of traps for fish, birds, +and animals. Whether we visit the almost unknown +chains of ponds among the gum-tree woods of Australia, +the fern-clad river-banks of New Zealand, the +great streams flowing through North-west America, or +the tangled forests bordering the jeels, nullahs, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>rivers of Central India, basket traps of various sizes +and forms, but all alike in their mode of operation, will +be found. Some we stumbled on while hunting among +the Bheels of Candeish were of elegant design,—trumpet +mouthed, and beautifully woven from the split-up fibres +of single bamboo-joints, the knot at the small end +being left to form a sort of plug-hole, through which +the bait was introduced.</p> + +<p><i>A. fluviatilis</i> shifts his shell, much in the same +manner as his salt-water cousins, and, like them, is +painfully nervous and retiring in his habits during the +hardening of the new case with which nature in due +time protects him. Like the sea lobster, the Cray is +wonderfully prolific, producing as many as 100,000 +eggs in the breeding season, which are carried securely +about for some time by the parent fish tucked up under +the abdomen, and defended by the lateral rows of legs +and claws. A notion prevails in some localities that +the goodness of water may be surely tested by boiling +a Cray in it, when, if the quality is all that could be +wished, the colour of the Cray should be clear and bright +red; whereas, if impure, the fish is said to remain dull +and lustreless. This, although a very old opinion, +appears much on a par with the idea, equally old, that +a frog in a tea-kettle would prevent the water therein +contained from ever boiling. We greatly fear, however, +that a good brisk fire would not only go far towards +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>dissipating the superstition, but at the same time make +it peculiarly unpleasant for the frog. It has been stated, +on good authority, that <i>A. fluviatilis</i> lives to a good old +age under favourable circumstances. Desmarest says +that it has been known to live for more than twenty +years, and that it increases in size as age advances. +We are disposed to think, however, that there must be +a limit to development far within twenty years, or we +should at times encounter some “grandfather Cray” who +would be far more pleasant to follow than to meet, at +any rate in his own element.</p> + +<p>The ancient Greeks appear, from the writings of +early historians, to have held the Cray in high esteem; +and Alexandria had the reputation for producing it of +the best quality. The Romans, too, were not behind-hand +in their appreciation of the luxury, and some +quaint ingredients are mentioned by the old writers as +being requisite to complete the operations connected +with its preparation. After being boiled, we are told +that the Cray was eaten flavoured with <i>cummin</i> and +seasoned with pepper, <i>alisander</i>, parsley, dried mint, and +more cummin ground and mixed with honey, vinegar, +and garum, with some liquid perfume. Bosc informs +us that “Crayfishes can be preserved several days, not +too warm, in baskets with some fresh grass, such as the +nettle, or in a bucket with three-eighths of an inch of +water. If there were enough water in it to cover them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>they would die in a few moments, because their great +consumption of air does not allow them to live in water +unless it is continually renewed.” The strange, mysterious +waters flowing through the mammoth caves of +Kentucky contain, amongst other wonders, considerable +numbers of these interesting creatures; and we have +recently been favoured with a sight of two specimens +of remarkable size and beauty of form brought from the +interior of Venezuela.</p> + +<p>Although neither crab, shrimp, or lobster, the bold and +adventurous diver as a “submarine armour-clad,” holds +a conspicuous position, as with helmet of proof, and +ponderous, metal-soled boots, he plunges fearlessly +beneath the wave, and prosecutes his researches “full +fathoms five,” amongst the strange, weird fastnesses +and cavernous depths of the deep sea. Huge and +terrible as he with his eyes of glass, and India-rubber +skin, must appear to the lesser inhabitants of the +ocean’s realms, there are “Tritons amongst the minnows,” +who fear him not, and would think little of +making a meal of him, in spite of his crystalline eyes +and indigestible equipment. The records of the voyage +of H.M.S. <i>Fawn</i> serve to show that the human +“armour-clad,” when submarine in his occupations, is +by no means “Monarch of all he surveys.” “The +gunner of the <i>Fawn</i>, being a very expert diver, was +employed to recover the treasure from the Peninsular +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>and Oriental Company’s ship <i>Ava</i>, wrecked a few years +ago on the coast of Ceylon. Having, in a gutta-percha +dress, made his way into the saloon, he was busily +searching for the bullion, when, to his horror, he saw a +huge ground shark come sailing in at the door. With +great presence of mind he lay motionless on the locker, +and watched it silently and quietly cruising about. +One can well imagine his feelings when he saw its cold +green eyes fixed upon him, and felt it pushing against +the leaden soles of his boots, and rubbing against his +dress, the slightest puncture in which would have been +certain destruction. About ten minutes of suspense +were thus passed, which must have seemed an age, +during which the monster came back twice or thrice to +have another look at him. Mr. Pound’s courage and +coolness were at length rewarded by seeing him steering +his way back as he came. Afterwards, Mr. Pound +always armed himself with a dagger when he went +down to the wreck, from which he recovered altogether +22,000<i>l.</i>, having spent some 850 hours under water. +He had also some narrow escapes at times from the +opening and shutting of the iron plates of the ship as +they worked with the roll of the sea. The air-pipe +was twice severed from his helmet, but fortunately, +slackening it warned the people above to lose no +time in rescuing him from his perilous position.”</p> + +<p>One is almost tempted to envy the cunning, miserly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>old crabs, who have it all their own way down amongst the +branching coralines and vase-shaped sponges, and crawl +to their very hearts’ content over the piles of sunken +treasures scattered there. Treasures are there, too, not +of man’s garnering, growing like rich sea-flowers beneath +the waves. The sea feathers, or <i>plume corals</i>, are +examples of these, and are found sprouting, like ocean +fern-leaves, from the rock cave’s ledges, far down in the +deep still water between the reefs; and we shall see +how a love for the beauty of Nature’s handiwork not +only led to the crabs being deprived of their hoard, +but, favoured by good fortune, proved a guide to wealth, +station, and ultimately, nobility. Thus goes the story, +which, unlike many of a somewhat similar kind, has +the priceless advantage of being literally true. In the +year 1650, one Phipps, a blacksmith, of Pemaquid, in +New England, was blessed with a son, who was christened +William, and who in very early life manifested +much ingenuity and a passion for ship-building. Very +shortly after the term of his apprenticeship to a shipwright +had expired, he built a vessel for himself, which +he navigated in person; and hearing it reported that a +Spanish ship, freighted with bullion, had sunk in the +neighbourhood of the Bahamas, he at once betook himself +to the scene of the disaster, and made the most +determined but fruitless efforts to recover the lost gold. +Treasure-seeking now appears to have become a fixed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>occupation with Captain Phipps. In the year 1683 we +find him employed by the English Government to discover +another lost ship (also Spanish), of immense +value. This he failed in accomplishing, but became +convinced that perseverance in the search would be +ultimately crowned with success. For five years he +was unsuccessful in his urgent applications for funds to +renew his investigations, when the Duke of Albemarle, +the then Governor of Jamaica, not only fully credited +the assurances of Captain Phipps, but, better still, furnished +him with ample means and fitting apparatus for +his new expedition. How he reached the scene of his +labours—how every lagune and gulf between the reefs +was searched in vain, until hope well-nigh vanished—we +need not dwell on here. No wreck could be discovered, +and he had almost determined to abandon the +undertaking in despair, when, after a day of more than +ordinary fatigue and anxious exploration amongst the +coral rocks, his boat’s crew were rowing him slowly +and dejectedly back to his ship, one of the sailors +directed his attention to a beautiful <i>sea feather</i>, growing +from the ledges of a sunken rock. “Alas!” said poor +Phipps, “there is a sea treasure indeed. I wish I +could get it.”</p> + +<p>One of the good-humoured black divers who accompanied +him, anxious to oblige his commander, shot +rapidly down to the coveted specimen, and just as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>rapidly returned with it, exclaiming—“<i>Feather safe, fine +feather, but plenty big cannon down where feather live.</i>” +This report, as may be readily imagined, made the sinking +heart of the poor captain leap again. Blackey was +despatched to the regions below to take another look at +matters, and after a short absence came back with the +glorious news that there were “<i>plenty big boxes too, and +lots of this</i>,”—exhibiting his dusky paws filled with +silver. Now the captain was in his true element at +last; and there lay the work he loved so well, ready cut +out for him; and he proved quite equal to the occasion, +for from that deep gulf, far down among the corals and +the Crabs, in whose custody it had quietly remained for +more than half a century, he brought to light thirty-two +tons of silver bullion, besides large quantities of +gold, pearls, and other valuables. We find that Phipps +was knighted by James II. He was appointed Sheriff +of New England, and took command of a large expeditionary +force against the French. We afterwards find +him in command of a fleet fitted out to oppose the same +enemy in Canada, and subsequently taking part in the +Border warfare of the period, as a leader of some celebrity; +and at this point of his career we bid adieu to +Sir James Phipps and the happy-chance discovery which +led him on to greatness.</p> + +<p>There is yet another little crustacean, rather a delver +than a diver, well known to every sea-side visitor. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>This is the Sea Flea, or Sand Hopper, as it is popularly +called, and because of its saltitary powers, young +ladies in dainty boots keep at a most respectful distance +from the scene of its performances, and rival the +hopper himself in the agility with which they bound +off on unwittingly invading the haunts of that nimble +little gentleman. Lift but a tuft of half-dried weed, +fragment of stranded wreck, stone, or tenantless shell, +and up leap a whole army of Hoppers, like as many +peas on a drum-head. They appear more vegetarian +in their tastes than most other of their crustacean +family connexions, subsisting mainly on the various +weeds found scattered among the rocks. Fish and +many other marine creatures feed voraciously on them, +and the Cornish chough, in his black satin coat and +scarlet stockings, picks them with marvellous dexterity +with his coral-coloured, forceps-like beak, from amongst +the tangled web of sea-cords and ocean-ribbons in +which they delight to harbour. The poor, frost-beset +starling, too, when the white snow lies thick on the +pastures, and the pitiless north-east wind whistles +down the vale, finds amongst the oar-weed heaps cast +up at high-tide level, Sand Hoppers enough to prolong +his wee-bird life till milder winds and better +times smile, on the land and him. So even the most +pigmy atoms of creation perform their allotted parts in +the great plan which an all-wise Providence has so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>wisely laid down for created beings, and we become +lost in wonder, at the marvellous and inscrutable laws +brought to bear in its furtherance. The saltness of +the sea, the metal iodine residing in its countless +myriads of weeds, the migrations of the mighty hosts +of fish, the ebbing and flowing of the tide, the labours +of the coral insect, the strange sponge-growths, trade +winds, and warm currents setting in from one region to +another, all evince the operation of laws, far too vast +for man, with all his boasted power, to penetrate or +understand. As there are “sermons in stones, voices in +running brooks, and good in everything,” so is there +beauty and evidence of Divine foresight to be found +under every fragment of drift-wood, cast between the +rocks; each upturned stone discloses some wonder of +creation, and as the mighty billows thunder on the +strand and carry in their backward rush the beds of +ever-wearing shingle, fretting and grinding with them, +frail humanity can but look from nature, up to nature’s +God, and feel its own utter insignificance.</p> + +<p>The ocean’s broad expanse, when lulled in calm +tranquillity, is no less a subject for pleasant and profound +meditation, and he who seeks a field for peaceful +reflection may find it by drifting away on the unruffled +bosom of the deep; and as the bark bears him slowly +onward, Montgomery’s lines will not fail to strike his +memory:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Sky, sun, and sea, were all the universe,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The sky, one blue interminable arch</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Without a breeze, or wing, or cloud; the sun</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Sole in the firmament, but in the deep</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Redoubled; where the circle of the sea,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Invisible with calmness, seems to lie</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Within the hollow of a lower heaven.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>We could willingly thus gossip on, and prolong the +journey on which our companion the reader has so far +accompanied us, but all rambles amongst the rocks, or +elsewhere, must have an end; our journey in search of +crustacean lore can be no exception to this stern law, +and we bid our fellow-pilgrim a cordial adieu until we +meet again to ramble forth, staff in hand, cockle-shell +in hat, and wallet on shoulder, to gather fresh stores of +some other lore, so lavishly scattered along the pleasant +paths where Nature, in all her goodness and beauty, +beckons us to follow.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="INDEX"> + INDEX. + </h2> +</div> + +<table style="width:75%;"> +<tr> +<td><a href="#IX_A">A</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_B">B</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_C">C</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_D">D</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_E">E</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_F">F</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_G">G</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_H">H</a></td> +<td></td> +<td><a href="#IX_J">J</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_K">K</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_L">L</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_M">M</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#IX_N">N</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_O">O</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_P">P</a></td> +<td></td> +<td><a href="#IX_R">R</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_S">S</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_T">T</a></td> +<td></td> +<td><a href="#IX_V">V</a></td> +<td><a href="#IX_W">W</a></td> +<td></td> +<td><a href="#IX_Y">Y</a></td> +<td></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<ul class="index"> + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_A">A.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anemone, the, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Anthozoa</i>, the living blossoms of the ocean, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Apicius, his love of crabs, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his journey to Africa in search of crayfish, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Apus productus</i>, his curious habits, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Australia, a land of contradictions, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Ava</i>, wreck of the, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">diving for the treasure, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_B">B.</li> + + <li class="indx">Baby Crabs, their curious forms and habits, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Baits, different kinds of, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Bêche-de-mer</i>, the, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">in great request in China, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Billingsgate Market, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">number of lobsters brought to, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Birgus latro</i>, the, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his habits, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bismuth, change of colour effected by, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Boat’s creeper, use of the, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Boiling of crabs, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">on the change of colour during the process, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Bopyrus crangorum</i>, a parasite crustacean, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Burrowing crabs, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_C">C.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cancer of the Zodiac, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">representation of the, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">depicted in heraldic devices, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Cancer dentatus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Cancer pagurus</i>, the edible crab of the shops, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Cape pigeons,” <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Cape salmon,” <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Cardium exignum</i>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Chads, capture of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Chemistry, judgments created by, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cherry of Australia, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cochineal bug, colour produced by the, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cocoa-nut eating crab, the, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Colour, change of, in boiling crabs, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Colours produced by different agencies, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Columbus, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Conger eels, their habits, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Coral-formed islands of the South Seas, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Coral reefs, marine creatures of the, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cork-float, use of the, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crabbe, the poet, lines from, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crabbers, the professional ones, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab-fishing, account of, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">materials to be provided, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">by juveniles, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">to be pursued at very low tides, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab-hook, use of the, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab-hunting expedition, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab-pots, or baskets for capturing crabs, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">of great utility, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab-sausages, the Roman method of preparing, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crab whelks, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crabs, historical notices of, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the “Cancer” of the ancients, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the baby crabs, or <i>Zoëa</i>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>:</li> + <li class="isub1">internal economy as curious as his external skeleton, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his liver an odd organ, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his lungs or gills, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the shell-shifting process of, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his unenviable position between the loss of his old shell and the secret of a new one, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the large edible crab of the shops, the most important member of the crab family, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the various methods by which crabs can be taken, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the hooks and implements in general use, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the use of the gut-knot, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">a great number taken with the crab-hook, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">methods of using it, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">tenacity of their grip, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">how the haunts of the crab are discovered, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their pugnacity, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">judgment required to select a good crab for table, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">how to discover the sexes, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">proper mode of boiling, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the change of colour during the process, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">crab-fishing of juveniles, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the harbour or shore crab, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the swimming crab, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the velvet swimming crab, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">spider crabs, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">hermit crabs, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">crab-whelks, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">pea-crabs, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">contained in the Philippine Island sponge, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">small crabs in the shells of the great silk-yielding mussel, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Pinna muricata</i>, <a href="#Page_40">40-42</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the burrowing crabs, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the great cocoa-nut eating crab, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">excellent oil produced by, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">crab-hunting expeditions, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the land crab, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">termination of the spawning season, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their cunning and activity, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their quaint proceedings among the Mahratta jungles, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the genus <i>Thelphusa</i> and its habits, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the sand crab, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Gelasimus</i>, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the king crab, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">humorous anecdote of, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">crab-life on the coasts of Japan, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">on the coasts of Tasmania, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">on the Chilian coasts, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the Chinese crab, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the various and general species, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the goat crab, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Parthenope horrida</i>, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Dromia lator</i>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Echinocerus cibarius</i>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Pilumnus nespertilis</i>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the <i>Planes minutus</i>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the floating crabs, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the Southern Seas inhabited by legions of crabs, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">modes of catching them, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crawfish of America, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cray-fish, or craw-fish, artificially propagated, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its natural habits, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">fishing for, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Walpole’s account of, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">journey of Africans in quest of, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">huge dimensions of, as recorded by Pliny, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">tables of ancient Rome often garnished with, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the common one of rivers, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its great abundance, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its natural habits, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">various methods for capturing them, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">shifts his shell, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">wonderfully prolific, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">held in high esteem by the Greeks and Romans, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Creepers, use of the, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crustaceans, their shell-shifting process, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">of the deep, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the principal food of the salmonidæ, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">endless types of, in the Southern and Eastern Seas, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their monstrous size and strength, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">troughs for hatching, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their proximity to other races, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cuffee’s attack on the land crabs, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cup-shrimps, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cuttle-fish, the, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Cyamus ceti</i>, the, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_D">D.</li> + + <li class="indx">Diver, fearful incident connected with the, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Dredges for shrimping, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Dress for shrimping, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Dromia lator</i>, the, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_E">E.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Echinocerus cibarius</i>, the, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Eel-basket, how constructed, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Eel-grass, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Euplectella</i>, the, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_F">F.</li> + + <li class="indx">Feejee Islands, affection of a chief for a little midshipman, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fairy shrimp, the, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fiddler crab, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fish, hooking of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fish-hooks, how to manage them, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fishing, implements proper for, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fishing leads, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fishing-tackle, of great utility, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Floating crabs, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Float-line, mackerel-fishing with the, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Flower-basket of the Philippine Islands, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its curious shape and texture, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Frame-reel, use of the, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_G">G.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Gelasimus</i>, a genus of crab, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his curious habits, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Goat crab, the, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gray, Dr., on Venus’s flower-basket, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Greenland whale, fed by shrimps, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gut-knot, use of the, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_H">H.</li> + + <li class="indx">Half-hitches, use of, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hand-line fishing, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Harbour crab, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hermit crabs, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hooking of fish, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hoop-net, the, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_J">J.</li> + + <li class="indx">Japan, crustacean life on the coasts of, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_K">K.</li> + + <li class="indx">Keer-drag, for shrimping, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Killick, use of the, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">King-Crab, of the Eastern Seas, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_L">L.</li> + + <li class="indx">Land crabs, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their extraordinary march towards the sea, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their return after the spawning season, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">attack on, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Landing-net and gaff, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Leads for fishing, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Leucosia urania</i>, the, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Liver of the crab, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lobster-fishing, its great importance, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lobster pigment, soluble in spirits of wine, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lobster season, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lobster-shell green, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lobsters, historical notices of, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their powers of vision, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">modes of capturing them, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their prolific nature, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">plans for artificial fecundation, and apparatus for, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">numbers of brought to Billingsgate Market, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">large importation of, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their popularity extends to all parts of the world, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">strange use of them during the Indian war, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">shifting of their shells, when they become unfit for human food, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their care of offspring, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">abundant on the coasts of British North America, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">captured by pic-nic parties, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the spined lobster, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the crayfish variety, <a href="#Page_100">100-102</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">swarms of, in the South American Seas, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">fishing for, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">found on the coral reefs of the Mauritius, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">(See <i>Crayfish</i>.)</li> + + <li class="indx">Loop slip, use of the, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lucky stones, anecdote of the, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_M">M.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mackerel-fishing, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Macrocheira-kœmpferi</i>, the, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mauritius, the coral reefs of, the great resort of Crayfish, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mauve dresses, &c., tincture imparted to the, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Medusidæ</i>, family of the, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Mithraculus coronatus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Mytilus edulis</i>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_N">N.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Neptunus pelagicus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Nets for shrimping, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Nets for shrimp-catching, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Nut crab, the, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">anecdote of the, <i>ib.</i></li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_O">O.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ocean, its broad expanse, a subject for profound meditation, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Oceanus crucifer</i>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Opossum of the shrimp family, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">fed on by the whale, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Ou-Ou</i>, the, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his habits, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Oyster-knife, Roman, found near Cirencester, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_P">P.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pagurus, the, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Parthenope horrida</i>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pea-crab, the, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Phipps, Captain, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his treasure-seeking adventures, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">his important discoveries, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">knighted by James II., <i>ib.</i></li> + + <li class="indx">Pic-nic parties for lobster-fishing, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Pilumnus nespertilis</i>, the, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pinna, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">a shell-fish, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">lines on, by Oppiannus, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">different species of the, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Pinnotheres</i>, varieties of, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Planes minutus</i>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Plume corals, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pole net for shrimping, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Porcellana longicornis</i>, the, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pouting, capture of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Prawns, historical notices of, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">capture of, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their aquatic haunts, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">catching of, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their estimated value, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">an excellent bait for salmon, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">of very large size in the Carribean Sea, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">parasite on the carapace of, <i>ib.</i></li> + <li class="isub1">(See <i>Shrimp</i>.)</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_R">R.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rag-worm, use of, as a bait, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Reels, use of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Robins of the United States, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rod-fishing, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rods useful in fishing, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Romans, crabs appreciated by the, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Round plait prepared salmon line, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_S">S.</li> + + <li class="indx">Salmon-trip, how constructed, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sand-crab, the, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sand hopper, its natural habits, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sand raiser, the, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sand-shrimp, the, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sea fishing-tackle, of great utility, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sea-flea, its natural habits, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Sepia</i>, or cuttle-fish, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Serpent orders of the Indian Seas, lines on the, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shark, fearful visit of the, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shell-shifting process of crabs, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its difficulties and discomforts, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shell, the inhabitants often dispossessed, and occupied by another, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shore-crab, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shrimp-fisheries for the supply of London and other markets, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shrimps, historical notices of, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">often confounded with prawns, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">named the “Sand-raiser,” <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">their cunning, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">contrivances for catching them, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">materials and implements for catching them, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">dress for, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">advantage to be taken of low tides, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">hoop-net used for taking them, <i>ib.</i>;</li> + <li class="isub1">fisheries for, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">enormous quantities of, consumed in London, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the endless variety of, yielded by the Indian and Chinese Seas, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">and also by lakes, ponds, and streams, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">the fairy shrimp, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">(See <i>Prawns</i>.)</li> + + <li class="indx">Silk-worm gut, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Silk-yielding mussel, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Skeleton of the crab, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Slugs, value of in the Chinese market, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Slug-hunters, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Smelts, capture of, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Soldier crabs, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">South Seas, coral-formed islands of the, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Southern Seas, inhabited by legions of crabs, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Spawning season of the land-crabs, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Spider crabs, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Squat lobsters, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Swimming crabs, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_T">T.</li> + + <li class="indx">Table, selection of a thoroughly good crab for the, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><i>Thelphusa fluviatilis</i>, a genus of crab, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">religions anciently connected with the, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Traps for catching crabs, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Traveller blocks, use of the, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Trepang of the Southern Seas, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">process of boiling, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Troughs for hatching crustacea, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Trout-hooks, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_V">V.</li> + + <li class="indx">Velvet swimming crab, the, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Venus’s flower-basket, of the Philippine Islands, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">its curious texture, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_W">W.</li> + + <li class="indx">Walpole’s account of fishing for crayfish, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Whelk-shells, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Whiting, capture of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst" id="IX_Y">Y.</li> + + <li class="indx">Yoke-lines used in shrimping, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="center p4">R. CLAY, SON, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, DREAD STREET HILL.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> + <p class="ph2"> + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + </p> + + +<p>Obvious typos and missing characters corrected. However, the following +have been left unchanged from the original: author’s spelling of +“hybernation”, “Macrocheira-kœmpferi”; extra closing bracket on <a href="#Page_57">page 57</a>.</p> + +<p>The text on <a href="#Page_74">page 74</a>, which describes the illustration “<a href="#i_p075">The Dredge</a>”, has +incorrectly referred to part A on the illustration with a lowercase “a”.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation retained.</p> + +<p>A jump-table has been added to the beginning of the <a href="#INDEX">index</a> for convenience.</p> + +<p>Missing punctuation in index corrected.</p> + +<p>The positions of some illustrations were moved to enhance readability. +Page numbers from the original <a href="#LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">list of illustrations</a> have been retained.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77735 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77735-h/images/cover.jpg b/77735-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew 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