Chesapeake Bayblue crab numbers are up sharply, though they remain below the long-term average, while the number of female crabs – vital for the future – fell and approached the level that signals overfishing.
08-31-1969 (cutline): Creeper X was favorite before craby derby. Old Dominion's entry got turned around.
Times-Dispatch
08-29-1969 (cutline): Virginia Creeper X is held by Manager W.E. Nichols (center) at Chincoteague. 'Dinks' Thornton holds alternate entry; gloved Sewell Thronton tempts claws.
Times-Dispatch
08-21-1988 (cutline): Vetra Mondragon sorts a pile of blue crabs before picking them.
Times-Dispatch
07-18-1948 (cutline): Soft crabs are packed in wooden boxes with paper, seaweed and ice around them to keep them cold and moist. Jumbos like this sell for $2 and $3 per dozen. They are packed 96 to the box.
Staff photo
08-30-1957 (cutline): Billy Frank caught this six-pound crab at Mill Creek.
Times-Dispatch
08-15-1968 (cutline): W.L. DuVal of Marattico holds up large "Jimmie" crab. It will be shipped for use on the steamed crab market.
Times-Dispatch
07-18-1948 (cutline): By means of nets stretched close to shore, like this, many "peeler" crabs are caught. The State imposes a tax of $1.50 a year on each, and limits each individual to a maximum of six such traps.
Times-Dispatch
06-01-1962 (cutline): Best way to handle hard crabs is with gloves. G.C. Armistead of Gwynn's Island urges caution.
Staff photo
07-22-1979 (cutline): Even cost of wire for crab pots has leaped recents. Increased cost of diesel fuel, low profits from catches add worries.
