[Sca-cooks] chowder (crab sexing)

[Joan Nicholson]

Hi Kiri,

This is for the Atlantic Blue Crab only, as I don't know the others...<grin>
When you turn the crab over onto it's back, the carapace will show 1 of two
distinct patterns.  The female has a triangular-shaped crease extending from
the back of the shell forward almost to the middle of the front below the
mouthparts. The male's crease is T-shaped, with the widest part at the back.
The differences are quite noticeable. Hope this helps.

Prydwen (crabby old ex-crab catcher)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sca-cooks-admin at ansteorra.org
> [mailto:sca-cooks-admin at ansteorra.org]On Behalf Of Elaine Koogler
> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 5:59 AM
> To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] chowder
>
>
> You know...somehow I had a feeling that I'd be asked this.  I do know that
> there are he-crabs as well as she-crabs...and I do know that
> there is a way
> to tell the difference.  But, not being a native of this "neck of the
> woods", I can't tell you what it is.  I know that for steaming, etc.,
> generally folks seem to prefer the male crabs, but evidently in this
> particular soup, the female is the crab of choice.  Maybe someone else on
> the list has a better idea...I think the difference, other than size and
> taste, is evident in the configuration of the underside of the carapace.
>
> Kiri (definitely not feeling crabby today!!!)