Soft Shell Crabs
In order for a hard crab to
grow, it must periodically
shed its old shell (molt) in order to
grow a larger shell. Following a successful molt, the crab's new shell
is extremely soft. After several days in the water, the new shell fully
hardens and is about one-third larger in size.
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Showing
signs
of moulting, peeler crabs are placed in shedding floats (or
tanks) until they moult and become softs. |
Crabs must be
checked many times a day so that they can be removed from
the water immediately after moulting so that they are not
eaten by other crabs and so their shells will not harden. |
|
The live soft crabs
are placed in waxed boxes and refrigerated until they are
ready to be packaged. |
Sorted by size and
placed in waxed boxes containing damp seaweed (eelgrass),
these soft crabs are ready for shipment. |
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