Interesting "problem"

[rgminer]

http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/templates/story.aspx?articleid=57113&zoneid=3



Here's an idea...How about you don't catch crabs if you can't sell them..?? HMMMM

I want to know what they are doing with the ones they can't sell...

[rj]

take note that Mr Simms makes no reference to #1 crabs, when crabs are sorted on the boat there is #1, #2 & Females, & whites
I don't know of any grade called "Restaurant Quality"

The restaurants & retail locations that I sell to have no problem paying in excess of $100 for bu of Real #1 crabs,, what they don't want to pay for is low quality crabs or short bushels,, hence their reluctance to pay full price or to buy at all from some crabbers & some wholesale houses

[stingray]

take note that Mr Simms makes no reference to #1 crabs, when crabs are sorted on the boat there is #1, #2 & Females, & whites
I don't know of any grade called "Restaurant Quality"

The restaurants & retail locations that I sell to have no problem paying in excess of $100 for bu of Real #1 crabs,, what they don't want to pay for is low quality crabs or short bushels,, hence their reluctance to pay full price or to buy at all from some crabbers & some wholesale houses

Good points Rich. Something to be said for trotline crabs too.

[Riptide1947]

When supply is greater than demand, then there is a lot of waste from dead loss with crabs...........the retailer then has to lower his profits and offers special deals to potential customers..............the buyer wins in this case.

This will also provide for higher quality product for the customer, because he won't settle for second rate crabs, that probably should not have been harvested in the first place. IMHO - females and whiteys should never have been harvested............females for reproduction, and whiteys are not really worth eating. These two types of crabs were harvested because of the extra money it brings to the crabber, and some less than fair dealing have been known to stuff the bushels with sub-standard crabs, not just the crabber, but also the retailer. It's all about padding profits ( greed ) .
Sorry if this offends someone, but it is my honest opinion.

[rgminer]

When supply is greater than demand, then there is a lot of waste from dead loss with crabs...........the retailer then has to lower his profits and offers special deals to potential customers..............the buyer wins in this case.

This will also provide for higher quality product for the customer, because he won't settle for second rate crabs, that probably should not have been harvested in the first place. IMHO - females and whiteys should never have been harvested............females for reproduction, and whiteys are not really worth eating. These two types of crabs were harvested because of the extra money it brings to the crabber, and some less than fair dealing have been known to stuff the bushels with sub-standard crabs, not just the crabber, but also the retailer. It's all about padding profits ( greed ) .
Sorry if this offends someone, but it is my honest opinion.


Yes that is true. I worked at a crab house for several summers and although we were never told to do it officially, there were times when we had orders for bushels and we only had a partial of one size, we would fill it with smaller or white crabs...It was "expected" from our customers said the owner...No one ever did complain as far as I remember...but it would piss me off now if someone did it to me..

[Riptide1947]

It's funny that the street prices ( retail $ $ ) of crabs has not yet reflected the glut that is reportedly there.

[slacktide]

I was a commercial crabber some 30 years ago ( man I am getting old) and we had a similar situation... My buyer advised me to only bring them #1's... No problem...

Back then though, a #1 was a number #1.. 6" or better, absolutely NO softness under the points, and usually stained black... I crabbed the Chester River and the crabs were absolute monsters... a basket of #1 averaged about 40 crabs... here is the kicker... during the glut market, that basket of #1 sold for around $10-12 at the dock... however, I was catching 10-15 bushels of #1 a day -Surprisingly, I could alter where I set my lines to catch mostly #1 and avoid catching toms of sooks and smaller crabs... those where the days..

[crabby and son]

People will pay good money for good crabs....plain and simple. A number one is at least 6" and HARD AN HEAVY...........Gary

[Burchbeer]

I agree with Crabby and son. Ill pay for quality if I have to buy crabs.

If a seller wont let me see each crab go into my brown paper bag or basket/box then forget it.
I know sellers that go into their refridgerated box and come out with your crabs and hand them to you and want their $.

I have found 4" crabs like that in the past.

Nope. Ill only buy from certain folks. I just want honesty.

Otherwise, Ill eat shrimp or lobster. Or other things that smell like........................................Oh nevermind!

DB