Proiect Report No. 28

Canada. Fisheries Service. Industrial Development Service. PROJECT REPORT

-

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ffiuaillmu~rn ' [prurn\!mmrn~~

by

J. Watson Fisheries Research Board of Canada

Biological Station, St. Andr~ws, N.B,

and

_ S.L. Simpson British Columbia Crab Processing Specialist under Contract to

the I ndustrial Development Branch, Fisheries Service, Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Ottawa.

for

I ndustrial Development Branch, Fisheries Service,

Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Ottawa July 1969

THE QUEEN CRAB INDUSTRY

IN THE ATLANTIC PROVINCES

by

J. Watson and S.L. Simpson

This report is the result of a joint undertaking by the Industrial Development Branch, Fisheries Service,

Department of Fisheries and Forestry, and the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.

Contents

!l.bstract

Fore\'lord

1. The- que e ncr a b a 11 d its dis t rib uti 0 n

External features

World distribution of Chionoecetes soecies

Occurrence and production in Japan

Occurrence and production in Alaska

Occurrence and oroduction in Russia and Korea

Occurrence in Greenland

Occurrence ,i n Canada

2. Brief history of the fishery in Canada

3. Biological investigations

The need for research

Research programs in oreration

Summary of biological knowledge

(1) Reproduction

(2) Growth, moulting. and c1ge

(3) Size at maturity

(4) Deoth distribution

(5) Tag9ing and movements

(6) Food

(7) Size Der area 1968

(8) Physiolo9ical studies

(9) Summary

Paoe no.

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Contents (cont'd.)

4. Vessels and gear

Types of vessels

Hauling gear

. (1) Small side draggers

(2) Danish seiners

(3) Hydraulic hauling

Fishing gear

(1) Variations on the basic square trap

(2) Tunnel variations

(3) Variations in netting

(4) Buoy lines and buoys

(5) Longline trapoing

(6) Tangle nets

Bait

Handling procedures on vessels

Holding procedures on vessels

(1) With ice in hold

(2) Air refrigeration

(3) Seawater refrigeration

(4) Cooking and freezing at sea

(5) Conclusions

Transportation

5. Commercial fishing 1968

Vessels fishing and distribution

Areas fished

(1) New Brunswick and Quebec

(2) P.E.I. and Nova Scotia

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Contents (cont'd.)

Number of traps

Rate of catch

Landings, weight and value

Lost gear

6. Plants and processing

Plants in operation

Code of practice for processing

Quality of crabmeat

Freezing and canning

Plant layout and equipment

7. Employee training

8. !~arkets

0 oJ • Exploratory fishing 1968

Industrial Development Service survey

New Bruns\'ri c k survey

Nova Scotia survey

Quebec survey

N e \,1 f 0 u n d 1 and surveys

( 1 ) Port-aux ·-Basques to Hermitage Bay

( 2 ) Fortune Say

( 3 ) Placentia Bay

( '1 ) Conception Bay

( 5 ) Trinity Bay

( 6 ) Bonavista Bay

10. Experimental fishing

11. Conservation

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Contents (cont'd.)

12. Future trends

i\cknoviledgments

References

Figures

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Abstract

Male and female queen crabs (Chionoecetes opiZio)

reach maximum carapace widths of 6~ and 3~ inches respectively.

The genus Chionoecetes is circumpolar in distribution, being

absent only in the northeast Atlantic. Japan7 Russia, Alaska

and Ca~ada have fisheries for these crabs.

In Canada, not until 1965 were serious attempts

made to create a fishery. Government aid for surveys, plants

and technical advisers helped to make the fishery a rapidly

expanding one.

Biological research programs, with particular emphasis

on fishery problems are under way. Information on breeding,

growth and age, maturity, distribution, movements, size

composition and rates of exploitation is beinq collected. Much

remains to be accomplished before rational management procedures

can be applied.

Vessels ranging from lobster boats to medium-sized

(110 ft) draggers have been converted to crab fishing. Square

metal traps, 5 ft and 6 ft square, set singly and baited with

herring are commonly used. Some vessels use small, conical,

Japanese-style traps set in groups. Tangle nets and trawls

are not used.

Hhen caught. crabs are usually stored in the iced

hold. Air and seawater refrigeration and partial processing

at sea have been tried, but to date costs have proved excessive.

Improved holding methods are urgently required, especially

during the hot summer months.

Abstract (cont'd.)

About 80 vessels, each fishing approximately 30

traps, fished the Chaleur Bay, Ga~p~ and Cape Breton areas

in 1968. Catch rates varied from 50-150 lb per trap haul.

Fishing in Newfoundland was mostly experimental. Almost

11 million lb, valued at $1 million were landed.

Fourteen plants processed about 2~ million lb of

frozen crabmeat. Canning was generally unsuccessful.

Processing operations, plant layout, employee training, a code

of practice for good quality and markets for the finished

product are described.

Conservation measures are not advised at present

as there is no sound biological basis for a r~tional

implementation of such restrictions.

It is anticipated that more commercial grounds will

be discovered and fished. Landings should rise to a peak,

then decline "to a stable level. The exoected increase in . "

production will allow buyers to insist on high quality.

Increases in the price paid to fishermen are expected but

fishermen's earnings will depend on volume rather than value

of individual animals.

The introduction of mobile factory ships or outpost

partial processing stations is likely to be a major trend of

the future.

Foreword

In 1968, in view of the growing importance of the

que~n crab fishery in the Atlantic Provinces, a broad

program of investigation of this new industry was

undertaken by several departments of government. Federal

investigations were made by the Industrial Development

Service, the Fisheries Research Board and the Halifax

Fish Inspection Laboratories. The provincial Departments

of Fisheries of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,

Prince Edward Island, and the Newfoundland Fisheries

Development Authority, on a cost-sharing basis with the

federal government, launched separate programs of

investigation relative to the special interests of each

province.

This wide range of activities produced valuable

reports from scientists, laboratory personnel, project

leaders in fishery explorations, economists, technical

consultants, and field observers. At the suggestion of

the Industrial Development Service of the federal

Department of Fisheries we have in this report attempted

to collate and summarize the available information on

queen crab so that the firms and persons already engaged

in the fishery, the many others who are contemplating

engaging in it and other interested persons could have a

comprehensive outline of the industry at this time.

2 .

Those who wish to study specific aspects of the

industry in detail shou1d ' consu1t the original reports

referred to in the text and listed as references.

1. The Queen Crab and its Distribution

External features

The queen crab, scientifically termed Chionoeaetes

opiZio~ has a flattened almost circular body with four

pairs of long walking legs and a pair of moderately

powerful claws. The body is about one third as deep as

it is wide. The legs are of a flattened oval section and

in the large male queen crab they span about six times the

body's width.

Fig. 1 shows that mature male and female 'queen

crabs are considerably different in both size and shape.

The fully grown male is twice as large as the female

across the body and has proportionately longer legs and

larger claws. A large male from the Gulf of St. Lawrence

has a body width of over 6 inches, a leg span of 3 ft

and weighs about 3 lb. Maximum size for a female is

3~ inches body width, 15-inch leg span, and a weight of

1 lb. The shape of the tail differs between the sexes.

The male's is long and narrow; the adult female's is

broad and almost circular. The eggs are carried under the

tail until they hatch (Fig. 2).

The shell colour of the queen crab varies between

moults. The newly moulted shell is glossy pink or light

3 .

brown on its upper surface and white or pink on the under

side. As the shell ages and hardens, the upper surface

becomes dull dark brown and encrusted with marine organisms;

the underside is yellowish brown.

Crabs are often caught with a claw or several legs

broken off at a special point near the limb base where a

clean break will occur with minimum bleeding. Soft-shelled

crabs tend to lose limbs much more readily than old, hard­

shelled ones. A new limb develops inside the stump of the

old one and the next time the crab moults a small, stunted

limb appears. These regenerated limbs require more than

one moult to grow to full size.

World distribution of Chionoecetes species

Apart from its absence in the northeast Atlantic,

Chionoecetes species is virtually circumpolar in distribu­

tion. Off the coast of Asia its southern limit is off

Kinkazan (east Japan). In the Sea of Japan the species

are C. opilio elongatus (Zuwai crab) and C. japonicus

(Benizuwai crab). The genus extends northward to the Sea

of Okhotsk, around the Kamchatka Peninsula into the Bering

Sea. In North America it extends from the Bering Sea

southwards to the Kodiak area of Alaska where it occurs

mainly as the tanner crab, C. bairdii. Further down the

coasts of Washington and Oregon, the deeper water tanner

crab, C. tanneri, assumes greater importance.

4.

Occurrence and production in Japan

The Zuwai crab is caught mainly by Danish seining

in vessels of 15-45 gross tons which make one-day tripsl

Some pots are used, mainly for the deeper-water Benizuwai

crab 2 . Fig. 3 shows the distribution in the Sea of Japan

and the areas most heavily fished.

The most productive area is the southwest Japan

Sea off Kyoto, Fukui and Tottori Prefectures (80% of the

production of the Sea of Japan).

The annual catch of crabs represents approximately

18% of the total marine products of the Sea of Japan but

brings in 50% of the fishermen's total revenue 3• Fig. 4

summarizes the landings from 1952 to 1966. It can be seen

that a sharp initial rise in landings was followed by a

relatively slow rise over the next 10 years. landings have

declined in the last 2 years and there is genuine concern

for the resource at the present time. Rates of exploitation

of over 41% have been calculated4 .

Both males and females are processed, the minimum

legal size being 3 inches carapace width. Restricted

seasons are enforced to allow mating. moulting and breeding

to proceed. These are: November 1 to March 31 for males;

November 16 to February 15, females 3 .

Approximately 5 million lb of Chionoeaetes species

are taken by the Japanese tangle net fishery in the Bering

Sea.

5 .

Much of the catch is canned and sold as Snow Crab

in the U.S.A. at approximat~ly $2.50 per 1b retail. In

the U.K. it is sold as Zuwai crab retailing at the equivalent

of $1.50 per lb.

Occurrence and production in Alaska

A closely related species, C. bairdii, along with

other Chionoeaetes species, is trapped in fairly large

quantities in the Kodiak Island region. Landings since 1962

were:

Year ~andings in 1 b

1962 1 ,220

1964 13,940

1966 217

1967 118,392

1968 2,500,000

Prior to 1967, the total catch was only a few thousand

lb and was incidental to king crab operations. In 1967 the

queen crab assumed greater commercial importance due to

reduced king crab catches in 1966. Area closures imposed on

the king crab fishery in 1968 and 1969 prompted the Alaskan

fishermen to fish specifically for queen crabs using

specially designed traps. The 1969 catch is expected to

reach 10 million lb with over 100 vessels fishing.

Occurrence and production in Russia and Korea

Both these countries have fisheries for C. opiZio.

However, no figures are available as yet for landings,

6.

values, or the size of the fleet. Russia catches approximately

5 million lb of C. bairdii fr6m her tangle net fishery in the

Bering Sea.

Occurrence in Greenland

C. opilio occurs in fairly large numbers along the

west coast of Greenland (Fig. 5) from Lat 70 0 N southwards.

As yet there is no commercial fishery.

Occurrence in Canada

In the northwest Atlantic C. opiZio extends from

the Gulf of Maine northwards to the Gulf of St. Lawrence 9

Labrador and the West Greenland coast (Fig. 5). The

commercial fishery has so far concentrated in two areas-­

(1) Chaleur Bay, (2) the west Cape Breton coast. However,

research and exploratory cruises have shown indications of

commercial concentrations in the area to the north and

east of Bonaventure Island, the Brade11e Bank area, the

Seven Islands region, the east Cape Breton coast, an area

off Canso, Nova Scotia, certain bays on the south and east

coasts of Newfoundland and the Hamilton Inlet Bank area off

Labrador 5 . Further surveys in 1969 will undoubtedly extend

known areas of commercial concentrations of queen crabs.

2. Brief History of the Fishery in Canada

Queen crabs have been taken in commercial fishing

gear in the Canadian Atlantic waters for many years incidental

to the fishing of other species. They were usually discarded

7.

as trash. At times catches were of sufficient size to

affect fishing operations by. filling the fishing gear.

However, not until this decade did interest arise in

harvesting this otherwise wasted species.

The first commercial interest arose in. Quebec in

1960 when about 12,000 lb of crabs were caught in the

Anticosti Island area by draggers from the United Fisheries

Co-op. of Gaspe. These were landed at a cannery in St. Orner,

Que. Up to 1966 approximately 18,000 lb were marketed

fresh or frozen in Quebec each year.

As a result of these catches, research into the

potential of this species was undertaken in the Gaspe area

by the Quebec Provincial Department of F~heries. Studies

were made using trawls and gill nets which are not· as

selective for crabs as present-day traps. Low catches led

to the conclusion that queen crabs were not present in

sufficient quantity to support a fishery. Three papers by

Brune1 6 summarized the results and were the first to be

written on this species in Canada.

The first real attempts at catching these crabs

commercially and the start of the present fishery, resulted

from the landing of 4,578 lb of queen crabs in September 1965

by the Danish seiner SteZZa Maris, chartered by the Nova

Scotia government to survey for groundfish off the northwest

coast of Cape Breton Island. As a result, in October and

November 1965 the M.V. Unique was' chartered by the Nova Scotia

government to assess the queen crab population off Cheticamp.

8.

Fishing trials using a Danish seine in three areas off

Cheticamp yielded a total of 14,750 lb of queen crabs.

Experimental processing of these crabs was undertaken by

the Cheticamp Fishermen's Co-op. and the Fish Inspection

Laboratory at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Following this success the Industrial Development

Service chartered the M.V. St. Eloi to obtain further

information on the location and concentration of crab

grounds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence adjacent to Cape Breton

Island; 18,095 lb of queen crabs were caught using an

otter trawl in the period December 1965 to February 1966.

Some experiments were made on methods of holding the crabs

at sea and shuckin~g the meat ashore at the Cheticamp

Fishermen's Co-op. An account of this work is contained

in the report by Deveau and Aucoin 7 . Also included in

this report as an Appendix is a progress report by the

federal Department of Fisheries' Fish Inspection laboratory

at Halifax on quality evaluation of frozen and canned crabmeat

after 3 months' storage. A second Appendix is an account

by J. S. MacPhail of the fishing trials conducted by the

M.V. StelZa Maris and M.V. Unique

Following the interest in crab fishing in the Gulf

of St. Lawrence, the St. Andrews, N.B., Biological Station

of the Fisheries Research Board issued a circular on crab

resources 8 . Six species of crabs with commercial potential

in the Canadian Atlantic were described.

9.

In the summer of 1966, interest in the commercial

potential of the queen crab · had increased. Preliminary

biological information was collected by the St. Andrews

Biological Station9 . Three joint exploratory programs

were carried out by the federal Industrial Development

Service and the provincial Departments of Fisheries of

New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia under

the general supervision of Mr. Hiram McAllister, a crab

expert engaged by IDS to give technical assistance in

catching, holding, and processing queen crabs.

In New Brunswick the vessels GZouaester No. 3Z

and Neguaa No. Z were chartered. Both otter trawls and

traps were used in the Bay of Chaleur off Grande-Riviere,

P.Q. A total of 43,265 lb of queen crabs were caught and

processing was carried out on part .of the catch by Gully

Fish and Food Company in Shippegan Gully, New Brunswick.

In Prince Edward Island the vessel HeZena Catherina

was chartered and traps of various shapes were used

experimentally. The survey, aimed at locating new stocks

of queen crabs, did not yield very large catches.

The Nova Scotia project was centred off Cheticamp.

The vessel, Unique, was once more chartered and traps were

used extensively; 28,700 lb of crabs were landed and

processing was carried out ashore in Nova Scotia.

Summaries of these projects are contained in Industrial

Development Service reports 10 , 11

Live-wells were built and fitted in each of the

provincial charter vessels as a method of carrying live

10.

crabs at sea but little success was achieved as surface water

temperatures rose to lethal 'levels for crabs in the summer

period.

At the end of the 1966 fishing season, 74,306 1b of

queen crabs had been caught. Processed meat in the canned

form was produced by the three pilot plants located at

Cheticamp, N.S.; Souris, P.E.I.; and Shippegan Gully, N.B.

A brief survey was also made of the potential around

Newfoundland and it was ascertained that queen crabs were

present in the waters adjacent to some parts of this

province but no attempt was made to fish them.

The Atlantic Queen Crab Association was set up in

1966 to provide communication between all those connected

with the industry and to promote its development in an

orderly fashion.

In 1967 commercial operators entered the industry.

The season ended with six plants engaged in processing over

1 million lb of queen crabs that had been landed by a fleet

of about 15 vessels fishing in the troughs off Grande-Riviere,

P.Q., and Cheticamp, N.S.

Much of the effort was due to federal and provincial

assistance in the form of vessel charters, setting up pilot

plants and engaging technical advisers. A new pilot plant

established at Hants Harbour, in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland,

processed a small amount of crabs taken in the gillnet

turbot fishery. ~perations in Newfoundland were of an

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experimental and exploratory nature. The Agnes Bpendan

was chartered to locate crab grounds and test out crab nets

and traps. Bad weather, however, curtailed the program.

Information on the Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

crab projecU is available in separate reports~2, 13

Mr. and Mrs. S. l. Simpson, crab processing experts

from the west coast, were engaged by IDS to advise the

industry on holding and processing methods. Details of

their operations were recorded in two reports 14 .

large 6' x 6 1 X 30" traps were used almost

exclusively in 1967. Typically they were constructed with

a steel frame covered with polypropylene mesh and had two

entrances. Various modifications to this basic trap were

tried including size of trap, mesh size, and the shape and

number of entrances. lethal surface water temperatures

during this summer led to the live-well ~ystem being

discarded in favour of carrying crabs live on ice. High

temperatures also prevented holding the crabs ashore in

lobster pounds and tanks. One commercial vessel was,

however, successful in holding crabs live in a live-well

supplied with refrigerated sea water.

Most of the meat produced in 1967 was packed in

5-lb frozen blocks. Heat-processed canned packs were tried

but various problems arose and this method was temporarily

discarded in favour of the frozen pack. The meat was well

received on the market and commanded a good price.

12.

3. Biological Investigations

The need for research

Considering the capital investment needed for vessel,

gear, and processing plants, it is important to know how

extensive the crab populations are and how large a fishery

they can support. With the fishery expanding at such a

rapid rate, there is an urgent need for biological and

exploratory research if these questions are to be answered.

Research by the Fisheries Research Board is aimed

at determining the biology of the crab with particular

emphasis on those aspects which may be directly related to

the fishery. Federal and provincial Departments of Fisheries'

research work is concerned with the investigation of the

potential of areas being fished, exploratory fishing for

new ~rounds, improvements in gear and vessel design, and

improvement of processing methods.

Biological research is most important if a rational

policy for the management of stocks ;s to be implemented.

At present there remains a great deal to be learned about

the fisheries biology of the queen crab. Research work is

proceeding in Canada, Japan, and Russia. Many important

questions must be answered:

1. How long does it take the crabs to grow to a

commercially acceptable size?

2. How long do they live?

3. At what size do males and females reach maturity?

4. At what size can a mature male mate successfully?

1 3.

5. How many times does a female breed and is the fishery

leaving enough males capable of fertilizing these

females?

6. Are there any extensive seasonal migrations?

7. How large are the stocks and where are they?

8. What catch can be expected when the large old males

in a virgin stock have been harvested? Will this

catch support a stable fishery?

9. What is the annual rate of exploitation?

10. How is this exploitation affecting the normal life­

cycle of the crabs?

11. What are the requirements for keeping crabs alive

once they are caught?

The Fisheries Research Board is attempting to

provide answers to these questions.

Research programs in operation

Three FRB stations have launched research programs.

The St. Andrews, N.B., station began in 1968 an extensive,

long-term prog~am in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The project

has two distinct approaches: 1) biology of the crab; 2)

effects of the fishery.

Information collected through field and laboratory

studies will provide information on the life history, growth

rates, age at various sizes, frequency of moulting and

reproduction, depth distribution, migrations and stock

densities.

14.

Log books supplied to fishermen and sampling at

the ports and on commercial' vessels enable scientists to

monitor catches per trap haul, areas fished and sizes of

crabs caught, so that any changes which may affect the fishery

can be determined.

Biological studies at St. John's, Nfld., station

were on a smaller scale. Research at the Halifax station

concentrated on species separation and tolerances to low

salinity.

Summary of biological knowledge

This section summarizes the 1968 findings of the

St. Andrews Biological Station. A more complete report

. '1 bl 15 1S aval a e .

(1) Reproduction

Almost all mature females caught in 1968 were

bearing fertilized eggs which indicated there is as yet

no shortage of males capable of fertilizing the female

population. Breeding has been observed only in the

laboratory where a 3~-inch male successfully mated with

a 2-inch soft-shelled female which had just moulted to

maturity. Th~ females release larvae from May to July

and lay new eggs soon after hatching has finished.

The fertilized eggs vary in number with size from 20,000

to 100,000, take about one year to develop and are

released the following spring. The free-swimming larval

period lasts approximately 4 months, then the small crabs

settle to the bottom.

15 .

(2) Growth, moulting, and age

Growth in crustac~ans occurs when the shell is

cast off. Intervals between moults increase with age.

All recognizable hard parts are shed, leaving no

structures such as annual growth rings which are found

in scallops, for age determination. Estimation of age

therefore, is extremely difficult. Juveniles ~ of an

inch to 2 inches carapace width are being held in the

laboratory to observe moulting frequency and growth

increments. Increments to maturity have been determined

for a number of animals but information on growth after

maturity is unavailable and will have to be obtained

from tagging experiments at sea. A large-scale tagging

program is planned in 1969 for this purpose.

The shell conditions of about 20,000 crabs were

observed in Chaleur Bay during 1968. The majority of

soft-shelled crabs are caught from July to September

(Fig. 6). During this period, fishing is intensive and

many soft crabs are thrown back as the meat is watery

and of no commercial value. Up to 50% of the catch

may be discarded in August. Nothing is known of the

survival of soft-shell crabs which are discarded. The

moulting season affects the fishery in that the catch

per trap haul is reduced and possibly a heavy mortality

occurs when soft-shelled crabs are discarded. No soft

females were caught but new shells were evident from

June to October, indicating moulting at some earlier time.

It is thought that once females reach maturity, there is

no further moulting.

16.

(3) Size at maturity

Analysis of the anatomical features of queen crabs

has shown that maturity occurs at 2 inches and 2~ inches

carapace width for females and males respectively. Males

at maturity are estimated to be 4 years old. It is not

yet known whether a male upon reaching maturity is

capable of mating immediately. One point is certain,

however. A male of 3~ inches carapace width successfully

mated in the laboratory. It seems possible that a good

stock of mature males capable of fertilizing the females

will be left by the fishery which only takes males above

4 inches carapace width.

(4) Depth distribution

In the Gulf of St. Lawrence this species has been

found from 20-130 fath. Table I shows the average

catch per trap haul in relation to depth in an unexploited

area off the Gasp~ coast using 6' x 6' x 30~ traps and a

standard bait (herring) throughout. Crabs are abundant in

30-100 fath, the majority being concentrated in 50-90

fath. This research was carried out by the Province of

New Brunswick and was limited to the period late July to

late August. A similar pattern emerged from an FRS cruise

in this area during September. It is not known whether

the distribution pattern remains constant throughout the

year.

1 7 .

18.

Table I. Distribution of queen crab in relation to

depth of water off Gaspi, July/August 1968.

Number per trap haul

Depth Ber'ried Male

(fath) female <4" > 4" -------

20-29 2.8 3.2 34.9

30,..39 2.5 4.4 38.5

40-49 5.9 7.0 64.4

50-59 8.7 10.8 105.1

60-69 21. 5 8.8 107.0

70 ... 79 10.2 7.5 92.8

80 ... 89 2.0 7.0 78.6

90-99 0 7.0 40.0

100-109 0 0 12.3

110-119 0 0 0

120-129 0 1 . 5 1.5

(5) Tagging and movements

Besides being invaluable for obtaining growth

information, tagging also provides information on

movements of crabs and rate of exploitation by the fishery.

Both factors are important for rational management of the

f·shery. Tagging for movement was carried out in 1966

and 1968. No extensive movements have been detected;

some crabs at liberty for 2 years were caught near the

release point. Japanese workers similarly find little

movement among queen crab populations. More extensive

tagging programs for movements and fishing intensity are

planned for 1969.

(6) Food

Queen crabs are quite omnivorous. Shrimps,

amphipods, bivalves, bristle worms, and brittle stars

form important components of their diet.

(7) Size per area 1968

At this early stage of the fishery, no reduction

in sizes of crabs landed is apparent. Fig. 7 shows

sizes of trap-caught animals in the Chaleur Bay,

Cheticamp and Gasp~ Bay areas. Clearly, the Cheticamp

fishery has a higher proportion of large males, 97-99%

of the catch being over 4 inches. Over 80% of the catch

in Chaleur Bay is over 4 inches. A largerproport;on of

small crabs occursin Gaspe 8ay. Continued fishing

pressure on the apparently sedentary stocks will crop

off most of the large, old crabs rather quickly and a

significant reduction in the average sizes landed ;s to

19.

be expected in future years.

(8) Physiological studies

(9 )

High mortalities during the summer months of queen

crabs held in live-wells and on ice in the holds of fishing

vessels and in tanks supplied with sea water at the plants

created a demand for information on temperature tolerances

and holding conditions necessary for survival of queen

crabs after capture. Studies were begun at St. Andrews

in 1967 and the results and recommendations have been

published 16 , 17. Routine oxygen consumption at SoC

(40 0 F) was not appreciably different from that of lobsters

tested at the same temperature. For routine storage

the water flows recommended for lobsters will be

suffl·Cl·ent 18 . 0 t· b th b· d xygen consump 10n y e cra s lncrease

about 50% when food was present, indicating that water

flows should be increased proportionately when crabs that

have recently been feeding are stored. For long-term

storage in water, temperatures must be lower than 50-55 0 F.

For storage in moist air, temperatures should not bE:?

a 11 owed to rise above 45 0 F.

Summary

A great deal of research remains to be done on the

biology of the queen crab. The fishery is in an

explosive state of growth and it is clear that industry

will require answers to biological questions much more

quickly than they can be provided. Intensive studies will

be continued in several areas of t he Gulf of St. Lawrence

20.

during 1969. The task of the biologists will be helped

if the closest co-operation between federal and provincial

agencies and commercial operators is observed.

4. Vessels and Gear

Types of vessels

Most of the vessels fishing crabs were built as

side draggers and Danish seiners which were converted to

crab fishing either because of unprofitable fishing for

groundfish, or to supplement such fishing operations.

Gil1netters, 10ng1iners and medium-sized draggers (approxi­

mately 100 ft) were also converted. Fig. 8 shows some of

the typical vessels fishing in 1968.

Hauling gear

With the exception of a few vessels, the existing

deck gear is used for hauling traps. The various conversion

methods used ,are listed below and illustrated in Fig. 9.

(l) Small side draggers

The usual practice is to remove the otter trawl,

trawl doors and trawl warp and haul the pot line in on

the winch drum. A short length of rope from the drum

is kept fed through the stern gallows block, so that

once the buoys are disconnected, the rope can be clipped

onto the pot line and hauling commenced. A boom, made

of wood or iron, varying in length from 10-17 ft, is

installed on the main mast to haul in the traps through

snatch or hanging blocks. Resetting is accomplished by

21.

allowing the weight of the trap to unwind the pot line

from the winch drum. Buoys are reattached when the pot

line is fully paid out.

(2) Danish seiners

These vessels can haul their traps using the

existing seine winches and a rope coiler. A boom with

snatch or hanging block attached is installed about 7 ft

from the deck and extending l-l~ ft over the starboard

side of the stern to haul the traps. An iron hook

running through a block from a 10nger boom is often used

to haul the traps onto the deck.

(3) Hydraulic hauling

This is used by three vessels at present. Once the

buoy line has been brought on board and passed over the

power block, hauling in and lifting aboard becomes a

continuous operation. Buoys and line are often allowed

to trail free behind the vessel. Resetting is a simple

matter of throwing the trap overboard.

Deck rail rollers are used on some vessels to

help haul in the trap and unload the catch.

Fishing gear

Early experimental traps included a circular one,

3~ ft diam x 20 inches high, modelled on the west coast

Dungeness crab trap and a rectangular one 4~ ft x 3 ft x

20 inches high. 80th traps had two entrances. This smaller

gear (100 lb) suffered high losses and was discarded in

22.

favour of a copy of the west coast king crab trap 6 ft x 6 ft

x 2~ ft, weighing approximately 200-300 lb (Fig. 10) which

was introduced by technical advisers of the Industrial

Development Service. This trap has two entrances on opposite

sides and a door on another side; the mesh on the bottom of

the trap is protected by an iron grid which also helps to

anchor the trap in the mud. The square trap has become the

basic one for the industry and, with modifications, was used

almost exclusively in 1968.

(1) Variations on the basic square trap

The basic trap, fully rigged with lines and buoys

can cost up to $300. Considerable trap losses in some

cases have led fishermen, especially in New Brunswick,

to experiment with smaller, lighter, less expensive traps.

The set rap s, a par t f I~ iJj; \ be i n 9 c h e ape r, are e as i e r to

handle on deck and allow more gear to be shifted at one

time to other grounds. However. if they become too

light, storms and .tides may move the traps off bottom,

resulting in poor fishing or e~en loss of the traps.

(J) 5 ~t x S ft x 2 ft trap (Fin. 11). These weighed

fished as well as the larger, heavier traps.

(b) 4 ft x 4 ft x 2 ft trap (Fig. 12). This trap was

developed by Eastern Fisheries for use on lobster

boors :: ;"o::nd rl0,' t h r:ustico:. i).E. I. , ':;icn queen crabs

\<l ere rep 0 r tee: ~ 0. ;: c: ~. ,: "" :: . II ;' I: 2 ~.. . s :" "i • t per i 0 d a f

23.

time, catches were small and fishing ceased.

The trap fished well. It seems probable that

traps of 150-200 lb will fish well provided no

heavy storms arise. The future design of gear

will no doubt vary with the preferences of

individual fishermen.

(2) Tunnel variations

Five basic tunnel variations shown diagrammatically

in Fig. 13 were tried by fishermen. All but type 1,

which had entrances at the very top of the trap, worked

well. Most of the traps had two entrances, but some

were tried with three entrances. Fig. 14 shows photo­

graphs of some of the various tunnels used.

(3) Variations in netting

Courlene netting 4~-5~ inches stretched mesh hung

tightly either square or diagonally was most favoured

for the trap frame. Some fishermen used plastic­

covered steel meshing but this was more expensive and

apparently no better than the courlene. Some nylon

netting was used but this stretched in water causing

crabs to get caught up in the meshes. One and one­

quarter to 3-inch mesh courlene, nylon or cotton twine

was generally used for entrances.

(4) Buoy lines and buoys

The square traps are set singly in 30-100 fath

water. The buoy line is usually 20 fath longer than the

depth of water to allow for tide, winds, etc. Where the

24.

fishing is variable and much moving has to be done, some

fishermen have found that split links can be used to

advantage in altering the length of buoy lines to suit

the depth of water. However, there is a danger of these

links parting, and consequent 10s5 of the traps.

Polypropylene rope 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch diameter is used

almost exclusively as it floats in water allowing gear

to be recovered if buoys are cut off and has good

frictional grip on the hauling gear. To prevent other

vessels cutting off buoys accidentally, weights or

lead-filled line may be added to sink the slack line a

few fathoms.

Generally two buoys are preferred; attached to the

pot line buoy is a trailer buoy on a 2-fath line which

mayor may not be marked with a flag indicating the name

of the vessel. Radar reflectors are sometimes used to

locate the ends of trap strings.

(5) Longline trapping

The Japanese use small light traps attached at

short intervals to a ground line, each end of which is

anchored, with a buoy line to the surface 2. In 1968,

in Newfoundland this type of fishing was tried.

Japanese conical pots (Fig. 15) 46 inches bottom diameter,

26 inches high covered with nylon netting and with a white

plastic entrance tunnel at the top, weighin:g about 15 lb,

were used. The mesh bottom is pulled together with a

drawstring. When this is released the traps can be

25.

stacked on top of each other, occupying very little deck

space (Fig. 16). They were attached to the 5/8 inch

polypropylene ground line at 30-fath spacing, with ~-inch

bridles and gangings. Generally ten such traps made up

a fleet (Fig. 17). It is probable that 200 traps could

be pulled daily in deep water by a small vessel. The

catch was compared to 6 ft x 6 ft x 2~ ft traps fished

on the same ground. The 10ng1ine gear averaged 20-30

1b per trap lift compared to 100 1b per trap lift with

the large trap. This method of fishing holds much promise

in areas where the depths exceed 100 fath and for the

small vessel which is not capable of handling the large

heavy traps.

(6) Tangle nets

Bait

Large mesh, nylon, tangle nets, as used in Japan,

were also tried in Newfoundland. These are sunk to the

bottom and left several days at a time. The fishing

results were poor, the labour involved excessive and the

nets were discarded. This type of fishing is destructive,

non-selective, and not used commercially in Canada.

Most of the New Brunswick fishermen preferred

freshly frozen herring or gaspereau bait. Mackerel was also

used with success; other baits were tried but not preferred.

However, in Newfoundland, in addition to fresh and frozen

herring, cod and squid were found to be good. The amount of

bait per trap varied with area from 5-15 lb. Bags to hold

the bait were made of netting or steel screens. In some

26.

~reas, sea lice and hagfish quickly destroyed the bait.

Plastic containers, closed top and bottom with holes approxi­

mately 1/16-inch diameter to let out the bait juices, have been

tried in such areas with success.

Handling procedures on vessels

Experiments have shown that crabs should be moved

quickly from the trap to the chill, moist air of the hold.

Crabs which are dropped into the hold are often damaged and

die more quickly than crabs which are carefully handled 19 .

Holding procedures on vessels

(1) With ice in hold

The following methods were used. Details are

available in two separate reports 19 , 20

(a) Bulk on ice.

(b) Bulk with ice among crabs.

(c) Bulk with ice among crabs; crabs protected with

polyethylene sheet.

(d) Crabs in wooden containers surrounded by ice.

(e) Crabs in stainless steel containers surrounded by

ice.

Method (e) was most successful with methods (c)

and (d) showing reasonable success. Methods (a) and (b)

were not recommended as high mortality occurred due to

severe and repeated handling.

(2) Air refrigeration

The Gloucester No. JZ, chartered for exploratory

surveys by the New Brunswick Department of Fisheries, was

27.

fitted with a refrigeration unit to cool the hold. The s hO\,led

res u 1 t S \'/ er..:e no imp r 0 v e men t 0 v erg 0 0 d ice h old i n g and did

not justify the additional investment.

(3) Seawater refrigeration

One vessel fitted with live-wells, used a chilling

unit to cool the water. During the night a long hose was

lowered to the cold-water layer and cold seawater was

pumped up continuously through the aerated live-wells.

During the daytime fishing operations, water in the 1ive­

wells was recirculated through the chilling unit. Tempera­

tures were generally kept below 45 0 F. The method was

reasonably successful but involved heavy expenditure.

(4) Cooking and freezing at sea

One 96-ft dragger was converted to catch, butcher,

cook, freeze and glaze sections at sea (Fig. 18). Shucking

was carried out at the plant. The method proved technically

successful. The end product of frozen crabmeat was

comparable in quality to that obtained from direct processing

of live crab. However, there is doubt as to its economic

feasibility. The vessel could catch no more crabs than an

equivalent-sized crab boat~ a heavy investment in cooking,

freezing and storage facilities was involved; valuable

fi~hing time was lost during processing operations as it

was almost impossible to perform factory work at sea on a

vessel of this size.

(5) Conclusions

There is urgent need of better methods of holding

crabs alive. Crabs survive on ice for little more than

28.

2 days and are often weak when landed. In the future,

trips of longer duration may be necessary. Recirculated

sea~ater, chilled to near 32 0 F, should be tried more I

extensively.

Transportation

In summer, transportation presents a serious

problem. In most cases crabs are taken by truck from the

wharf to the plant, a distance in some instances of several

miles.

In some areas, crabs stored in bulk on ice were

loaded into buckets, dumped into open trucks, and exposed to

the sun and wind. This method resulted in high mortality.

Crabs stored in aluminum trays in the hold were weighed and

unloaded onto trucks still in the original trays (Fig. 19)

which reduced handling to a minimum.

Transportation in open trucks or trailers is poor

practice. Even for short hauls, trucks should be enclosed,

insulated, and refrigerated. Crab mortality will only be

reduced if the greatest care is observed in handling the

animals in all phases of the operations - catching, holding,

unloading, transportation.

5. Commercial Fishing 1968

Vessels fishing and distribution

Almost 80 vessels landed crabs in 1968. The

number of vessels fishing by province were:

29.

N • B. 55 P.E.I. 8 P.Q. 8 N . S. 3 Nfld. 3

Total 77

Each vessel worked approximately 30 traps. Few vessels fished

the complete season, May to December. Fig. 20 shows the number

of vessels fishing during each month of the season from the

Maritime Provinces. Most vessels in Quebec made a late start

but continued fishing until December.

Areas fished

(1) New Brunswick and Quebec

The vessels fished the east part of the Bay of

Chaleur starting from Paspebiac and northeastwards along

the coast up to Gasp~ Bay. Some fishing was also carried

out later in the season in the area bounded by American,

Orphan and Miscou Banks. Savoie19 gives a description

of the movements of vessels in this area and Fig. 21,

which illustrates the fishing areas, uses his data.

(2) P.E.I. and Nova Scotia

These vessels continued to concentrate their effort

in the Gully off Cheticamp (Fig. 22). Some fishing was

also done around Cape North. Fishing virtually ceased

after early October as many draggers were in the area.

At least 2 P.E.I. vessels spent much of their time

catching and buying crabs in the Chaleur Bay-Gaspe Bay

area.

30.

Number of traps

Approximately 2,250 traps were in use by the 74

vessels fishing in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Fishing was most

intensive in the Grande-Riviere-Chandler area of Chaleur Bay

where ~t one time (July) up to 1 ,000 pots were being fished.

The other areas were not very heavily fished. The maximum

number of- traps in the Cheticamp area at anyone time was

300.

Rate of catch

Due to poor returns of log books, it was difficult

to make good estimates of catch per unit effort. The poor

returns were apparently due to the unfamiliarity of most

fishermen with keeping good log records. However, estimates

were made for three areas: (1) Chaleur Bay, (2) Cheticamp,

and (3) the area bounded by American, Orphan and Miscou Banks.

Areas (1) and (2) were from fishermen's records and area (3)

from the 1968 New Brunswick exploratory survey which used the

6 ft x 6 ft x 30 inch traps and a standard bait (herring)

throughout. This survey carried out fishing in all depths

and on various types of bottom, whether crabs were present or

not. Catch rates in Chaleur Bay averaged about 60 lb per

trap haul over the season, whereas in Cheticamp the average

was 100-150 1b per trap haul. Commercial catches in 1967

averaged approximately 100 1b and 150 1b per trap haul for

Chaleur Bay and Cheticamp respectively. Catches of commercially

acceptable crabs in the unexp10ited areas surveyed by New

31.

B run s w i c k a ve rag e d 1 0 3 1 b per t rap h a u 1 ~ "Ji t h a h i g h 0 f 3 7 5 1 b

in one trap. This compares favourably with a yield of 96 lb

per trap haul from the 1967 P.E.I. experimental fishing project

in the Cheticamp area 13 and suggests that commercial catches

could average 150 lb per trap haul.

Landings, weight and value

In 1967, landings were 1,009,000 lb vlith a value of

$ 91 ,4 ° ° to f ish e r men . 0 uri n g 1 9 6 8, a 1 In 0 s t 11 mill ion 1 b \'/ ere

landed by 74 vessels, a tenfold increase from the previous

year. Almost 70% of the catch was landed by vessels from

New Brunswick. Queen crab landings by provinces during 1968

were as fo 11 O\."s :

32.

Landings Value ?_r_o_v :L~c: e ______ 1 0_00 .JJM ___________ -'.9_0.9 __ L~oJ~':'~ J __ _

Average price per 1 b {cen~~

N . B .

N • S •

Que.

P. E.!.

I'l fl d.

Total

7,582

1 ,447

829

738

300* ----.--

10,896

*Estimated figure.

680 8.9

145 10.0

82 9.9

57 7.8

30*

994 9. 1

The 1968 monthly landings for all the Atlantic Provinces with

the exception of Newfoundland are shown in Fig. 23. The

1969 catch for all areas is expected to reach 20 million lb.

Lost gear

Details on lost gear are not available for all

provinces. Good information was available only from the

New Brunswick fishery19 Of 2,254 traps built for the 55

vessels during the season, 669 or 29% were lost. Traps lost

on individual vessels varied from a low of one to a high of

36, with an average of 12 per vessel. Trap losses reported

in the Cheticamp fishery showed a similar pattern.

Storms, draggers, and ships' ~ropellers caused most

of the losses. Marking the ends of trap strings with radar

reflectors or lights and sinking all slack line a few fathoms

below the surface would reduce losses caused by other vessels.

6. Plants and Processing

Plants in operation

In 1968, crab processing was carried on in all five

Atlantic Provinces. The plants were:

Quebec: / Les Crustaces de Gaspe, Ltee, Grande-Riviere, P.Q. Central Cooperative, Magdalen Islands

N e \'/ B run s VI i c k : Gully Fish and Food Ltd .. Shippe~an Yvon LeBlanc, Petit Rocher t·!. S. Log 9 ie, Ltd., S hi P !l(; (1 (HI

S \.Ji m 8 r 0 s ., Ltd., S hip r C <J a tl United !'·1aritime Fishermen. Richihll(;,r,' r:i1rJ '-: E. P. t~ e 1 a n son. Ltd., C 0 c a 9 n c Cape Bald Packing Co .• Cape Pele

Nova Scotia: Maritime Packers, Ltd., Pictou Cheticamp Cooperative Association, Grand Etang

Prince Edward Island: Eastern Fisheries, Ltd., Souris Hendell Graham. Ltd . • Gaspereaux

N e \,1 f 0 II n d 1 and : P. Janes and Sons, Ltd., Hants Harbour

33.

All plants produced frozen crabmeat. Three of the plants

also canned crab. Four of the plants were originally

government supported pilot plants, one each in New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. All pilot

plants are now in commercial operation.

From almost 11 million lb of crab delivered to the

plants in 1968, it is estimated that 2,200,000 lb of crabmeat

were prepared. A small proportion was canned but by far the

greatest proportion was frozen in 5-1b and 2~-lb blocks

suitable for the institutional trade. Some 5-1b blocks were

cut and retailed in 6 oz, 8 oz and 16 oz packages .

Code of Practice for processing

In 1967, the Halifax Fish Inspection laboratory

34.

began investigations into the processing of queen crab, both

frozen and canned. The laboratory has now published the results

of its findings in a Code of Practice 2l . In addition,

procedures to ascertain quality grades of crabmeat are

described. The major section concerns a vital subject--

sanitation.

Quality of crabmeat

During 1968 the industry suffered a severe setback.

Some shipments of frozen crabmeat consigned to the U.S. market

were cond~mned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because

of excessive bacterial count. In other cases buyers complained

of poor quality. Continuin9 poor results such as "blueing" and

struvite formation in canning crab restricted that tyoe of

production. The whole industry is affected by poor quality,

though only a few plants may be responsible. The industry

faces a major task in maintaining a quality product. Causes

of poor quality are:

1. Bad plant and employee sanitary practices.

2. Processing dead crabs.

3 . Insufficient washing of cooked sections.

4. Insufficient washing of shucked meat.

5. Poor shell removal.

6. Irregular salting.

Freezing and canning

A detailed exposition of each stage in the freezing

and canning of crabmeat, with the above title, is available

from the Industrial Development Service 22 . The Process Flow

Diagram (Fig. 24) will be found in the above-mentioned report,

with a full explanation of each step in the process.

Particular reference is made to the difficulties usually

encountered, together with suggestions as to proper equip­

ment. This report and the Code of Practice should be obtained

and studied by all processors.

Plant layout and equipment

35.

To date equipment in the Atlantic crab plants has

consisted of items designed for the processing of Pacific crabs

and Atlantic lobsters. The expectation of volume production in

this new industry plus the urgent need for quality control, is

arousing keen interest in mechanization of the crab process,

wherever Possible 23 .

The process divides naturally into:

1. Storage of live crab.

2. Butchering, cleaning, cooking~ washing, cooling

(= cooked sections).

3. Shucking (= uncleaned, unsalted crabmeat).

4. Shell removal, washing, brining, draining (= prepared

meat).

5. Shelling, weighing, freezing (= packaged meat).

6. Storage of finished product.

Stage 2 is already well on the way to mechanization.

The washing of raw sections, cooking and the second washing

and cooking, can all be performed now in one continuous

operation by using a) a rotary washer feeding into b) a

continuous cooker feeding into c) a second rotary washer.

It is easy to visualize a machine into which live crab is

fed, then passed under a knife to tear off the carapace, and

brushed and sprayed to remove the gills and viscera.

Shucking is now entirely a hand operation. Due to

the variations in leg and claw sizes, it is unlikely that any

single mechanical means can be devised to remove the meat in

an acceptable form. However, some sections of the operation

can be isolated and partially mechanized. However, a cost

study and quality comparison would be required to ~etermine

whether a real improvement has been achieved over hand,

shucking with bonus incentive.

Stage 4 is an area where a mechanical flow is

possible, and badly needed to replace the hit-and-miss

36.

37.

performance we have now. Shell is usually removed by squeezing

the meat which downgrades its appearance. The washing, brining,

and draining of the meat as presently done is subject to human

control with correspondingly wide variations in result.

7. Employee Training

A crab plant which is designed to process 25,000 1b

of live crab into 5,000 lb of crabmeat in an 8-hr day with

our present techniques requires approximately 110 employees.

One hundred of these may be women.

The successful operation of the plant, as regards

production level, labour cost, yield, quality and sanitation,

depends mostly on the efficiency with which the numerous

manual operations are performed.

Personnel of the Industrial Development Service in

1968 assisted in the training of crab workers in eight plants.

From this experience various recommendations were made. The

following is a brief summary; processors are urged to read

the full report 24 .

All employees should go through a training program

before the commercial operation begins.

Two persons, of foreman or forelady calibre, should

participate in the whole program.

Two days of training for each ordinary employee

is sufficient to learn shucking and other

procedures.

Training groups should be -estricted to six or eight

emp1 0vees.

All employees should be impressed with the need

for sanitation at every step of the crab process.

8. Markets

During the past year, production could not keep

pace with the export demand. The possibility of increased

landings for several years to come gives processors high

hopes for marketing this product which should yield at

least $1.80 per lb F.O.B. the plant.

The Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce,

Ottawa, has been keeping a close watch on the market potential

of queen crab and has produced a detailed report intended for

restricted circulation among exporters.

To date, processors have concentrated on the

attractive and lucrative market, the United States. In their

report to the Atlantic Crab Fishery Development meeting in

March 25 , the Department cautioned processors against putting

all their eggs in one basket. The United States market now

strengthened by shortages of king crab meat, may be

more competitive when the American tanner crab is marketed

in greater volume. Western Europe, particularly the United

Kingdom, should be considered seriously. Provided the

exporter could guarantee regular supplies of good quality

meat, the European market should be just as profitable as

that in the United States.

38.

9. Exploratory Fishing 1968

Investment in catching the queen crab increased

rapidly during 1968 ~ resulting in some areas in intense

fishing pressure. A large program of exploration was carried

out by the federal and provincial Departments of Fisheries to

locate and determine the extent of new stocks which could

meet the increasing demand. Five exploratory programs were

carried out--one completely federally funded and four funded

on a federal-provincial cost-sharing program. All used the

6 ft x 6 ft x 2~ ft steel traps and, wherever possible, a

standard bait.

Industrial Development Service survey

The objective of this survey was to establish the

distribution and abundance in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 26 .

The Ste. CeaeZia II, a 65-ft combination dragger­

seiner, was chartered from late April to October. Survey

areas were plotted on a 2~ nautical mile grid and traps set

by Decca. A standard bait (frozen herring) was used and

records were kept of all crabs caught in each trap. Most

sets on the west coast of Newfoundland gave negative results.

There is a possibility of a limited commercial fishery in

Bonne Bay and off Port aux Choix. A large area was explored

off the Quebec north shore, from Perroquet Island to Port

Cartier (Fig. 25). Crabs were present in commercial

concentrations. Trial sets on Hamilton Bank, coast of

Labrador, yielded promising results (Fig. 26).

39.

New Brunswick survey

This survey explored an area bounded by American,

Orphan and Miscou Banks to determine the extent and commercial

potential of the grounds within reach of the New Brunswick

vessels. The vessel, GZoucester No. JZ, was chartered from

mid July to late August. Traps were set on a 2~ mile grid

pattern and set where possible for a standard time (24 hr).

Catches were made in depths ranging from 20-110

fath. Fig. 27 shows the abundance of queen crab in the

survey area. Crabs were common in 40-90 fath but most

abundant in 50-80 fath on muddy or sandy mud bottom. Several

40.

experiments were carried out on the effects of various handling

treatments on survival of crabs 27 .

Nova Scotia survey

The object of this survey was to explore the

continental shelf along the Nova Scotia coast from north

Cape Breton as far south as Browns Bank and to depths as

great as 500 fath for commercial concentrations of queen

crab, red crab (Geryon quinquede ns) and northern stone crab

(Lithodes maia)28.

The M.V. Judy an d Linda IV, a 92-ft longliner,

was chartered from late May to late November. The queen

crab survey took place from June to late Auqust. Queen crab

stocks were concentrated southwest of Cape St. Lawrence, off

Cape Smokey, and off Canso (Fig. 28). Fishing seemed best on

the inshore areas where the bottom was soft. The same survey

revealed large stocks of red crab along the outside edge of

41.

the 100-fath contour, extending from the southwest tip of Sable

Island Bank.

Quebec survey

The following is a direct quote from Rycroft 26

"Ex-cellent results were obtained by a vessel fishing from

the Magdalen Islands in an area between Orphan and

Bradelle Banks. It is estimated that this extremely

rich area would measure 100 miles by 50, from 45 to 75

fath. Catches averaged more than 150 crabs per trap,

and fantastic individual lifts weighed up to 1,000 1b

of crabs per trap. On the first day 6 traps yielded

4,300 lb. Between Orphan Bank and Magdalen Islands,

production was lower but still better than the yield

from the Gaspe area."

Newfoundland surveys

For the past 2 years, data on crabs caught incidental

to the gilln~t and trawl fisheries have been collected by

observers at stations on the Newfoundland coast. Favourable

reports from these sources were followed up in 1968 by two

expeditions, the "Walter Lynn" from Conception Bay to

Twillingate, and the "Chilco Laker! from Port-aux-Basques to

Placentia Bay29 (Fig. 29). Results of these surveys may be

summarized thus:

(1) Port-aux-Basques to Hermitage Bay

Little or no evidence of queen crab. The

possibility of a crab fishery in this area is remote.

(2) Fortune Bay

Possibilities of c~mmercia1 stocks of queen crabs

were indicated at the upper reaches of the bay and to

depths of 120 fath.

(3) Placentia Bay

Possibility of a limited commercial crab fishery.

Trap-lifts averaged 112 lb of marketable crabs.

(4) Conception Bay

An area 6 miles by 20 miles yielded a 90-1b

average per trap-lift. One or two vessels could possibly

fish this area profitably.

(5) Trinity Bay

42.

Limited stocks in the inner section of the bay suggest

there will be no commercial fishery. A limited commercial

fishery is in progress in the central section. The outer

part of the bay has not been explored.

(6) Bonavista Bay

Fishing both with Japanese longline pots and large

square pots yielded commercial catches. A limited fishery

is indicated.

Explorations will be made in 1969 in Notre Dame Bay,

White Bay, Green Bay, the southern waters of Labrador to

Hamilton Bank, and in an area northwest and south of Port

aux Choix.

10. Experimental Fishing

An investigation into the best fishing gear for

queen crabs was carried out by the Industrial Development

Service in 1968 30 , 31 This embraced building and testing

six different trap designs. Trials were made of the

catching powers of eight different kinds of bait and the

best methods for placing bait in the trap.

Conclusions reached were:

The square 5 ft x 5 ft x 2 ft trap, about 135 lb,

with a grid bottom 4 to 7 inches below the enclosed bottom

proved superior to all other types.

The angle of the tunnel approach and the angle and

width of the entrance are critical factors in the trap's

.fishing ability.

Two bait bags, suspended between the entrances, one

at each side, proved to be the most effective way to bait

the trap.

Fresh herring, and after that frozen herring, proved

the best baits.

Subsequent to these experiments a nesting type of

square trap similar in dimensions to the 5 ft x 5 ft x 2 ft

trap has been designed and plans are available from the

Industrial Development Service, Ottawa.

11. Conservation

Conservation of a fishery is usually associated with

minimum size limits, closed seasons, gear restrictions, and

43.

44.

quotas. Such measures are imposed so that a sound, economically

viable fishery can be maintained.

Conservation measures need to be based on sound

knowledge of the crab's life history, the size of the stocks,

the effects of fishing on the stocks and the economics of the

fishery. Because of the early stage of research on the queen

crab and the infancy of the fishery itself, Wilder 32 has

cautioned against the immediate introduction of regulations

that may be costly and difficult to enforce, may affect the

economy of the fishery, may be unnecessary in the light of

future research, and be extremely difficult to subsequently

abolish.

As in other new fisheries of the past, queen crab

landings can be expected to rise to a peak, then decline and

level off when the fishery reaches a state of balance. The

large, old crabs will become scarcer and annual catches will

represent the annual recruitment to commercially acceptable

sizes. When this sustainable yield will be reached is

uncertain and will depend on the size, distribution and value

of the resource and the rate at which it is exploited.

12. Future Trends

It is virtually certain that the spectacular growth

of the queen crab industry shown in 1968 will continue for the

near future.

The government fishing explorations of the past year

have uncovered two large areas with a rich potential in queen

45.

crab--along the north shore of the St. Lawrence near Sept

Isles, and off the Magdalen ls1ands. The commercial fishery

will advance into these areas in 1969. Smaller areas, more

limited but still valuable, were discovered in 1968 east of

Cape Breton Island and in the bays of Newfoundland. Some

intriguing finds have also been made off the coast of Labrador.

If the market holds near its present price level,

a steep increase in production is assured. This, in turn,

will stiffen the buyers' position and there will be greater

insistence on quality. The plants which can produce the

highest quality will move their products; those that do not

may find their product slow to sell.

The financial returns for fishermen and processors

are sufficiently attractive that we can expect to see more

fishermen, more plants, quickly enter the field, regardless

of whether government aid is provided or not. We can expect

to see a continuing increase in the means of production until

the inevitable happens--a falling off in the supply.

The Alaska king crab fishery rose from 10 million

lb in 1953 to over 150 million in 1966. In 1968 it had

declined to 100 million lb. In Japan a similar history of

rise and fall is apparent. Just when the peak in queen crab

landings will be reached, or what will be the level of the

sustained y~eld. no one at this time can say.

Already, at this early stage in its history. every

step in its progress is under the close scrutiny of our

research scientists and economists. The queen crab lends

itself to management better than many species. The non­

migratory nature of the crab", the present geographical

limitation of fishinQ to our own nationals, the selectivity

of trap fishing, give us good reason to hope that in this

enlightened age the resource can be managed wisely and well.

The industry until now has d~pended entirely on

vessels which are changing over to crab from other fisheries

in which they were doing poorly. This is a healthy trend.

Improvements in traps, in hauling gear, and in holding

facilities are more necessary at this time than new vessels,

and government assistance should be in that direction, at

least until a definite need for new vessels is shown.

The mounting production of queen crab will soon

outdistance the protective umbrella that the decline in king

crab production has provided. We will soon face a major

selling job, as did the king crab industry a few years ago,

and there will also be stiff competition from the rapidly

expanding tanner crab industry.

The first task in selling is to establish in the

buyer's mind that queen crab, no matter by whom or where

produced, is a dependable high quality food product. Plants

must expect and, indeed, should demand strict inspection of

all plants and the finished product. If a poor product

escapes into the market, the damage done reacts through the

whole industry right down to the fishermen pulling traps at

sea.

46.

With new plants building and old ones expanding on

every hand, there will undoubtedly be increased competition

among buyers and a rise in the price paid to fishermen.

This is to be hoped for, but it is unlikely crab will reach

the exalted lobster price level. At present it appears that

queen crab will be sold in meat, not shell form. There is

accordingly a large residue of labour cost involved. For

comparison, the price of crab in the Pacific fisheries has

risen in times of scarcity but never to the astronomical

heights achieved by lobster. Good fishermenls earnings will

depend more on volume than on value of individual animals.

The proof that cooked crab sections can be frozen

and later successfully manufactured into top grade meat at a

different location is of great importance.

Mobile factory ships, stationary barge installations

or outpost buying, cooking and freezing stations can all

process crabs in remote areas. This means that any plant,

conveniently situated, could draw a supply from any area and

need not collapse when the local fishery thins out. This

is likely to be a major trend of the future.

!\ c I: n 0 \ J1 ~ d ~ J 1 ~,; Ii t S

47.

The autilol~S "!olllJ li!:c' to thill'll: t:1 C Industrial ,) e vclol1-

men t S e r vic e 0 f t 11 (? f ~ d p r a 1 0 ~ !J art:n C :l t 0 f F i ;. h :' r i 2 S \'1 r, () '1 f 0 v i d ~ d

the majority of the funds ff))~ tl,is stll(!". ':ililY inc.!ividutlls,

crah fi sher:lIen, :)rocessors, anc! :J0vC1"n n ,:llt J) (:rsonn';l sll!);)l i cd

useful data for this I!or!: un:l t i)(;ir cO!ltrihutiol1s are qrutr.fully

ackno\l12d~Ir.c!. The illllStl"otiol1s IIC)"C ll)' (;rL1f t,: <! ) V i: '!ssrs

P. I!. G. :lc;'llllon an (! F. :~. CU;1ni!)'I;lClI.1.

References

l. Kato G.,!. Yamanaka, A. Ochi and T. Ogata. 1956. General

aspects on trawl fisheries in the Japan Sea. Bull.

Jap. Sea Reg. Fish. Res. Lab. 4: 1-331. In Japanese

with English summary. (Section on C. opilio, p 293-

305= translation available USBCF. Seattle, Wash.)

2. Fukataki, H. 1965. Number of ovarian eggs of the deep-sea

edible crab Chionoecetes japoniaus Rathbun, in the

Japan Sea. Bull. Jap. Sea Reg. Fish. Res. lab. 15:

95-97. In Japanese with English summary. (Translation

FRB, St. Andrews, No. 1192, 7 p.)

3. Ito. K. 1963. A few studies on the ripeness of eggs of

Zuwai-gani Chionoecetes opilio. Bull. Jap. Sea Reg.

48.

Fish. Res. Lab. 11: 65-76. In Japanese with English

summary. (Translation FRB, St. Andrews, No. 1117, 25 p.)

4. Sinoda , M. 1968. Studies on the fishery of Zuwai crab in

the Japan Sea--II. Rate of exploitation and efficiency

of seining operation. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fisheries

34(5): 391-394. (In English)

5. Corlett , J. and J. Ramster. 1963. ICNAF Document #30,

Serial #1101 - mimeographed report presented at the

Ann u a 1 Me e tin 9 0 f I 01 A F. Hal i fax , N. $ ., J u n e 1 96 3 .

6. Brunel, P. 1960. /

Observations sur 1a biologie et 1a biometrie /

du crabe-araignee Chionoea e tes opilio Fabr. Rapp. ann.

1960 Sta. Biol. mar. Grande-Riviere, P.O. p 59-67.

Brunel, P. 1961. Nouvelles observations sur la biologie et

la biometri~ du crabe-araign~e Chionoecetes opiZio

(Fabr.). Rapp. ann. 1961, Sta . Biol. mar. Grande­

Riviere, Que. p 63-70.

1962. Troisieme s~rie d'observations sur la

biologie et la biometri~ du crabe-araign~e Chionoecetes

opiZio (Fabr.). Rapp. ann. 1962, Sta. 8iol. mar.

Grande-Riviere, Que. p 91-100.

7 . Deveau, L. E. and J. \40 Aucoin. ~1S, 1966. Spider crab

explorations Gulf of St. Lawrence, December 1965 to

February 1966. ~1S Rept .• Canada Dept. Fisheries,

Industrial Development Service, March 1966.

8. Wilder, D. G. 1966. Canadian Atlantic crab resources.

Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Biol. Sta., St. Andrews.

Circular, General Series, No. 50, 6 p. Also in

Fisheries of Canada, 19(3): 11-16, 1966.

9. Powles, Howard W. MS, 1966. Observations on the biology

of two species of spider crabs, Chionoecetes opiZio

and Hyas apaneus ~ in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Fish.

Res. Bd. Canada, MS Rept. (Biol.) No. 884, 27 p.

MS, 1968. Observations on the distribution and

biology of the spider crab Chionoecetes opiZio.

Fish. Res. Bd. Canada , t·1S Rept. Nc. 950, 18 p.

MS. 1968. Distribution and biology of the spider

c r abc hi 0 n 0 e c e t esc': i l-': 0 i nth e i'1 a 9 d ale n S hal 1 0 \'/ S ,

Gulf of St. Lawrence. Ibid. No. 997, 106 P.

49.

10. Deveau, L. E. and Hiram McAllister. 1967. A report on the

development of a queen crab fishery in the Maritime

Provinces of Canada. Canada Dept. of Fisheries,

Industrial Development Service, Project No.4, 44 p.

11. McAllister, H. 1967. Processing and handling of Atlantic

queen crab. Ibid. 6, 14 pp.

12. MacDonald, K. F. 1967. Observations on the queen crab

fishery, Cheticamp, N.S., June to November 1967.

Nova Scotia Dept. of Fisheries, Resource Development

Division, Pictou, N.S. Project #202/67. 21 p.

13. Judson, D. B. and W. 1. Judson. MS,1967. Queen crab

fishery development. June-December 1967. P.E.I.

Dept. of Fisheries, Charlottetown.

14. Simpson, S. L. and J. Simpson. 1968. Queen crab fishery

in the Atlantic Provinces 1967. Canada Dept. of

Fisheries, Industrial Development Service, Project

No. 18, 39 p.

1968. Atlantic queen crab, Newfoundland 1967.

Ibid. 19,14 p.

15. Watson, J. 1969. Biological investigations on the

spider crab Chionoecetes opilio. Canada Dept. of

Fisheries, Industrial Development Service. 34 p.

16. HcLeese. D. W. 1968. Temperature resistance of the spider

crab Chianoecetes opiZio. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada,

25(8): 1733-1736.

50.

17. McLeese, D. W. and J. Watson. 1968. Oxygen consumption

of the spider crab (Chionoecetes opiZio) and the

American lobster (Homarus americanus) at a low

temperature. J. Fish. Res. Bd . Canada, 25(8):

1729-1732.

18. McLeese, D. W. and D. G. Wilder. 1964. Lobster storage

and shipment. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, No. 147,

69 p.

19. Savoie, R. 1969. Queen crab fishery and development in

the Gulf of St. Lawrence. N.B. Dept. of Fisheries,

School of Fisheries, Caraquet, N.B. 42 p.

20. Simpson~ S. L. 1969. The preservation and handling of

crab on board vessels. Canada Dept. of Fisheries,

Industrial Development Service. 25 p.

21. Blacb/ood, C. M., S. Varga and A. B. De\·/ar. 1969. Code

of pr~ctice for processing queen crab. Canada Dept.

of Fisheries ', Industrial Development Service. 18 p.

22. Simpson, S. L. 1969. Freezing and canning techniques.

Ibid.

23. 1969. Mechanization of processing equipment.

I bid.

24. Simpson, J . 1969. In-plant training of v/orkers in queen

crab processing plants. I bi d .

25. Bedard, R . ~L 1969. t~arket potential of the Atlantic

queen c ra b. Ibid.

51.

26. Rycroft, J. 1969. Exploratory fishing for crabs -

Atlantic area. Canada Dept. of Fisheries,

Industrial Development Service. 34 p.

27. DeGrace, R. 1968. Exploration - Crabe-araignee

Nouveau Brunswick. N.B. Dept. of Fisheries,

School of Fisheries. Caraquet, N.B. 14 p.

28. Perry, L. A. 1969. Nova Scotia deep sea crab explorations

1968. Nova Scotia Dept. of Fisheries, Resource

Development Service, Pictou , N.S. Project #202/68,

33 p.

29. Hinds, L. 1969. Exploratory fishing for queen crabs

carried out by the vessels ~alter Lynn and Chilco Lake

off the south and east coasts of Newfoundland -

June-October 1968. Canada Dept. of Fisheries,

Industrial Development Service, St. John1s, Mfld.

30. Imbeau1t, G. H. 1969. Report on Industrial Development

Service trap experiments 1968. Canada Dept. of

Fisheries. Industrial Development Service . 34 p.

31. 1969. Test crab traps for efficiency on

east coast. Fisheries of Canada, 21(8): 3-6.

32. Wilder, D. G. 1969. Conservation of the queen crab.

Canada Uept. of Fisheries. Industrial Development

Service. 5 p.

52.

FIG. 1. Adult male and female queen crabs. The female is

smaller and has a broad tail.

FIG. 2. Egg-bearing female.

Chino

U.S.S.R .

.........

Sea . of Japan

Pacific Ocean

FIG. 3. Distribution of C. opiZio around Japan. Areas shown

in black are most heavily fished: other areas of

occurrence shown by open circles.

C. opilio 40

Catch - Japan

/--/ /.-.

/ \ . / ./

'0 20 -----­. .---./

fA C o .­-

• a ~~--~I--~--~I --~--~I--~--~I--~I--~I~~I--~I--~I--~I--~I

1952 154 '56 '58 '60 162 '64 166

FIG. 4. Annual landings of C. opilio in Ja;.Jan.

FIG. 5.

80° _Many Records

• few or Isolated • Records •

•

•

• • • • • 0

40°

70° 60° !10°

Distribution of queen crab in the northwest Atlantic.

(Modified from Squires 1966, Serial Atlas of the

Marine Environment, Folio #12.)

100 " A-A ,/ ,I

Vl ..0 ro s... u

Moles , / Hard s::

/\ Old Shell OJ OJ :::l CY

4-0

50 ~ s::

0 - or-

e +J Q) or-

O Hard -0 s:: 0

"- New Shell u Q) ...... a. / '. ~

J---/ ~\ \ OJ .. .c Q) ,0 ... , ~ \ \ Vl

, .... o~ \ OJ U /' \

r:: l.O e Soft Shell \ .',

or- o·, Q) .-"- 0

s:: "- 0 >, ::J 0,... ro U +J c:o u 100 A-, A 4-& ro

0 0,.. s..

'/~/':ard s... :::l ro OJ > ,.... ... ro

0 >, .c r- U

Old Shell ..r.: +J E >. s:: 0

U 0 s... e :.:;: 4-Q) Females :s CT l.O Q) ...

LL. t!)

50 ..... LL.

Feb Apr June Aug Oct Dec

... c Q)

u ~ Q)

a.

>-u c Q)

::J cr Q) ~

lL

Q)

N

(J)

20

10

Chaleur Bay

1966

(N c I286)

4" 4!." I 12 1 I

18.0 % 1 38.2 %1 I I

I I

43.8 %

O~~~~~~~~~~a2~~~~~~~~·~U~~Uh~~~J

20

10

oL

30

20

10

1968 (N= 1440)

Cheticamp

1967

(N=859)

16 %

3 %

1304 I .

I I

53.6 %

23 % 74 %

1-:-:':-:-:-:-:':-: :-:-: ............ .•• •.....•...•. o. 1 :-:-:.:-:-:.:.:-:.:-:-:.:-:-:-:-:-:-:

...... ::: .. :::::: ::::::::. ...... . .... .. ...... ... .. ......................... ........................ .............. ........... ..... ... ..... .. .. ....... '::.', '::.':: .. :::: ... ','. ';. '::. ': ..... .................... ........................

0 '------,-----r-- ~1lftC:::-:·~~ .. ~1 =="!:...:::: ... =:. ·,········.@JUbilib,mL., ... , ..... 20 1968 1%

10

II % I 88 % I.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ................... , I:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·:·:·:·:·:·:· ......................... I:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ................. ........ .............................. ....................... ........ .............. ... .................... .....................................

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :-: ....... . o '-----,-----r---T---. ------'-J,-, .-......... r:':: :7:: :~.'. 'j':':':':':' ::~.;~:-:- :-~~.~:.: .~:.:. :'~i:;:':::':':':': -:~~.: -:.:;:.::: .. ,:.: '~ .

20[ Gospe' Bay

1968 10

29 %

1

18 %

I ( N= 2226)

o~ ~'<~.---,-80 100 120 140

Carapace Width, mm

FIG. 7. S i z e f r c que n c y 0 f t r a r -C il U 0 :, t rn ale (] u e c ncr abc; fro III

the Gulf of St. Lav/rencc.

FIG. 8. Some vessel types converted to crab fishing in 1968.

A. Small side dragger; B. Danish seiner: C. Medium

side dragger: D. Lobster boat.

Seine

(0)

Boats - Hauling with Seine Winch

Side Hauling

Small Side Trawlers

( b)

o

Med iu m S ide Trawlers

( b)

( b)

<D~~ 0 ~. Stern Hauling

Hauling with Trawl Winch

Activated 800m and

'--------{ Hydraulic Pot Hau ler

Hydraulic 800m and

Pot Hauler

Activated Boom and

Hydraulic Pot ~ _____ ~~ _____ ~_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-~~ Hauler

FIG. 0 '! e 5 S C 1 con vcr s i on ;,1 e t:1 0 ct sus e eli n t 11 E' n ll :~ r: ncr (II-

fishery.

-

FIG. 10. A 51 X 6 1 x

, , , ' , . , , , . , , '/ ,

, f I , ,

, .. ,- , , . , . '

, . ' I I

. )

trap.

FIG. 1 1. A 5 I X 5 I X 2 I • S qua ret rap \'! i t h a 300 - 1 b cat c h .

FIS. 12. A 4' X 4' x 2' square trap used off Prince Edward

Island in shallow water.

Ar----------

2 Funnel; vertical entrance at top of trap

c~--------

2 Funnel; horizontal entrances 5" from top of trap

8~-----------

2 or 3 Funnel ~ vertical entrances 3

11 to 5

11 from top of trap

D~---------

2 Funnel; entrances slanted

forwards 511

from top of trap

Et-="--------

2 Funnel; entrances slanted backwards 5" from top of trap

FIG. 13. Variations in entrances used on commercial traps.

FIG. 14. Tunnel variations on crab traps.

A. 2 - tun n e 1" b a c hi a r d s 1 ant i n 9 en t ran c e S; B.

3-tunnel. vertical entrances; c. 2-tunnel, vertical

... _ .. _ .... _---

FIG. 1 5 • J a pan e sec 0 n i cal t r a 0 (46:; bot tom d i arne t e r, 24:1 h i 9 h )

used in Newfoundland 1968.

,I '. ~, ••• ~:'.' • r.~ • .. ....:. ..

FIG. 16. Stacked Japanese conical traps.

Surface --------------------------------

Buoy Line and Ground Line 5,/ Polypropylene

8

Bot tom --- 30 Fa th -----

FIG. 17. Method of setting Japanese conical traos.

\

FIG. 18. Processing equipment on Eastpak Z. (A - washing

tanks; 8 - position of cooker (added later); C -

cooling tanks; 0 - brine freezer; E - hatch to

refrigerated hold.

FIG. 19. Unloading crabs in aluminum trays.

FIG. 20. ~ umber of vessels crab fishing each month during 1968

in the Maritime Provinces.

60

01 40 c: /O""'-....N. B . .s:; U)

LL

30 CD --CP (I) (I)

cP 20 >

N. S. / P.E.I. / __ A __ ~ ... A.-.,........ ..... .... ~-A .-__ 0-......--_ : ___ o--::, __ ... ~. ___ .--.... -.. ...

, _______ ~----- ... --- -------.1- ___ .......... ___ ..,: ........

10

o M J J A s o N o

Months

30' 30'

Gosili···············

I): \ . \. ~ ..... ' ~ ... ~.'

.......... "::'.:' ~ ...... ;: ..... , ........ coroque~····· .... ~ .:.: ./

--:-.r.'........ Sh.·······, ... ~...; ...... i .,.......... .p egon ". ' .. . . v.>,< .. ' ... ,m" FIG. 21 .) . Areas f~ _. ,shed .. commerciall

Quebec Y by New B crab vessels 196 runswick and 8.

FIG. 22 Area fished commercial Nova Sc . 1y by Prin otla vessels 19 ce Edward Isl . 68. and and

:3

en

FIG. 23. Monthly landings in 1968 of Atlantic queen crab

in the Canadian Atlantic provinces with the exceotion

o f Nevi f 0 U n d 1 and .

o~ o

~ 2 ~ o a.

"-o

en c: o

o oc-=_-o ...-..,.,...~ 0 I I I

Feb Mar April

o

I June

, July

I Aug

I Sept

I Oct

o

I Nov

o I

Dec

FIG. 24. Queen crab process flow diagram.

HOL-DING - BRINE t OR AIR) FREEZING

L J

?---o -----

~I 1-' - SEE NOTE CONtI"uOUS COOKER r

/, Fig::! PROCESS FLOW - FROZEN QUEEN CRAB

SEE ';OTE Rt FREE~ GARD r--------------I I ORAIN- ,

WEIGH PRESS

:AHS

CUT L.EGS -0-:-., " Flo. -2 PROCESS FLOW­

CANNING CRAB USING 21zoF COOK

C00. COOL CASE .AREHOUS[

_~ ______ ~.H~~------~.M~~------~.~~~----S-M-'P--••

('....-

AF TEA r I~ "E "'AINDER OF CA .... ' .. G PROCESS AS f'Or:t CI - CI4

. . . .. rw:''- 'IP '''OAl (; OC Iit C.HP ..... 'j

' ... f ~ · ~ vr ( S S 1$ T~l S·'-..l '5

~. l;' I " 'J If'" ('h.lH""~·U ~'r·' fi9_.3 - PROCESS FLOW - FRACTIONAL COOK CANNING PROCESS ----------_.. ------- --

DIP W~SH RINSE

QUEEN CRAB

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

Prepared by ' S L _ a J . SIMPSON . JAN 1969

O'O."'~' G. I r. TUQN9Ull In~u.,·.o l ~ ."'IO"""", S., •• ce .

,

(!)

'" 01 Z

'" (!) o

a> ., C :J Z VI (1)

~ ~ n ;;r

~ ~D

... ~ ..

G)

o VI "0 (1),

~w.

..

.. . .

'.

(}l

o o

I\)

(]I

()l

°

(!) .b

o

~ ., .: .' . . .. .. ~ ' .

. I '.: . (]I .. .. t) O.:t

o c CD c:r III n

.. . .

". .,.::--~

~ .. :: .... ~ I·· ~ '" ... . .. .. () A d?~""" ~~' . ~~ '" .. ~ .. ~

. . . .

00 " I\.)

(]I

(!) -"0

o

'" (!) o

FIG. 25.

0. :J • ~~ z a.

(]I

o o

Industrial Development Service exoloration 1968 -

Gulf of St. La'.'/rencp.. DotteJ line indicctes

DrODosed limits of exploration. Solid lines sho~

areas covered. The nU 'nber of (orimp-reially acccptahlr.

crabs oer trap haul is shown for eac~ area.

Labrador

- - - - - - - - - - ------: I

Quebec

' A -

~50

~-O

~-O (J Belle Is

FIG. 26. Industrial Development Service exploration 1968 -

Labrador. Solid lines indicate limits of exploration.

Numbers refer to the number of commercially acceptable

crabs per trap haul. Ie. refers to a catch of 3,000

lb in a l-hour trawl haul by a British research vesse1 5 .

30'

•

- -.. ,

... .. --" .....

tJ>"~ . '.

: .= 0' • ':

• 0'··

i.····

30' r---

Limits of Explorat1on

[:~:::;:l - < 50 Ibs I Trap

~- 50 - 150 Ibs I Trap

~- > 150 Ibs / Trap

FIG. 27. Relative abundance of queen crabs off Gasp~ as indicated

by the 1968 New Brunswick survey.

Cope Breton Island

o

&t\

o

0

# ~ - , , ' , , " ,. , , '.

, ... .... ...

0

00

00

0

0

0

0

, , ,

o o

o

Crabs Per Trap

o - 0 - 24 0-25-49 o - 50 - 74 o -75 -100

... ........... . "

o o

\ .-o

.... , .'

, A •

; -'" ...

I I ,

o . - '

o

FIG. 28. Relative abundance of queen crabs off Cape Breton

as indicated by the 1968 Nova Scotia survey.

, •

., l

,

II!;/, Area of Maximum lillI/!;, Co n centratio n

-- --- Boundaries of Exploration

wfoun d and Boy

Fort une

, I

" I , I

, I , I

, I , I ,

, I , I

, I , I ,

, I , I

, I , I

, I '- -- ---

FIG. 29. Newfoundland queen crab survey 1968 showing areas of

maximum concentration.