640 State Papers and Addresses

Both Maryland and Virginia have had in effect for a number of years mini-
mum size limits on the various types of crabs. Our officials have been alert to
rigidly enforce these limits.

Among the recommendations contained in the recent report of the Fish and
Wildlife Service, perhaps the most important and far-reaching have reference
to the protection of sponge or egg-bearing crabs, and two alternative proposals
are advanced. The report states that a basic principle of crab conservation is
protection of sponge crabs throughout the year. To maintain the fullest degree
of natural reproduction Maryland should continue to enforce its law prohibiting
the capture, possession and sale of sponge crabs. Virginia should enact laws
with the same objective.

In view of the urgency of securing positive results as quickly as possible,
our industry and conservation officials feel that measures directed to the com-
plete protection of sponge crabs should be put into force at this time as the
most positive and certain means to accomplish the desired recovery.

As an alternative proposal, the report recommends the establishment of
crab sanctuaries to secure the protection of a large proportion of sponge crabs
in a certain designated area. This is in line with action already taken by the
Virginia Commission during the past season. However, it is felt that only time
and further study will definitely establish whether or not this will constitute
sufficient protection in view of the wide-spread and rapidly increasing use of
the highly efficient crab pot.

The report recommends also the advisability of establishing sanctuaries
on a seasonal basis in favorable areas for the protection of many smaller soft
and peeler crabs in order that they may have a better opportunity to attain a
larger size and a greater market value. This recommendation considered not
only the better utilization of an existing supply of crabs but the preventing of
gluts in the market for soft crabs during the early part of the crabbing season.

With the present self-imposed limitation of our State completely prohibit-
ing the taking of sponge crabs, the prohibition of all winter dredging, and the
prohibition of the taking of crabs by any means between October and May, it
is our feeling that the industry cannot stand a further limitation of catch except
in the interest of real conservation.

Such conservation requires the full cooperation between Virginia and our-
selves in the protection of our common crab stock, which in equity should be
shared on an equal basis.

When reliable information is available to establish the facts as to the
quantities of crabs which each State is annually subtracting from our common
population under existing methods of fishing, and if this information establishes
the fact that some further contribution on the part of Maryland is necessary
to equalize contributions made by Virginia, then I feel sure that it will be
possible to secure the adoption of further conservation measures in Maryland
such as the proposed sanctuaries in Maryland waters.

Such statistical information upon which to base sound administrative
measures is unfortunately j. to a large extent, lacking. It would seem, therefore,