Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1884 — The Giant Crabs of Japan. [ARTICLE]

The Giant Crabs of Japan.

I had heard of these grekt giants, bnt I had no idea that they attained this enormous size. Arrived in Japan. I soon heard from the native fishermen the most remarkable stores, and found a man who said lie could take me to a spot where they could be caught. We started one afternoon iu one of the small native boats and skirted the bay for seven or eight miles, finally arriving at the mouth of asmaKriver. Hero we went ashore and the Japanese soon rigged up a tent of rush, in which we were to pass the night, as it was only after dark that the sea-spiders couM be seen. It was dusk when we reached the spot, and for three mortal hours we sat there speechless, watching the shore. The tide was on the ebb, and finally the fishermen grasped me suddenly by the arm and pointed down the shore a way. There 1 soon inade<>ut a curious lumbering object making its way up out of the water. The moon was rising and at every move the creature glistened and sparkled as if it was drenched with molten silver. On it came until finally I could make out the outline of a gigantic crab, that was undertaking the nncrab-like operation of leaving the water and taking to dry land- I waited until the animal stopped and showed signs that it would go no higher, and then rushed out, making for the water so as to head it oft'. I had provided myself with a large stick and soon found that I should have to use it, as the moment the huge creature saw us it started lor the water, crawling along sideways and at no mean rate of speed. I placed myself in front of it, but on the creature came, holding aloof its two claws, each of which was ten feet long, and by the time it reached me I stepped aside and was in rather a quaudry, as I wanted to secure it entire. The Jap was talking and yelling something that I could not understand, aad suddenly grasped one ohthe big claws. Seefng his game? I grabbed the other, and held on as well as wo could, and would you believe the strength of the animal -was such that we could not stand still. We pulled in opposite dihowever, and in this way lifted the animal from the ground; but while wo were holding on, the crab, by a quick movement, threw off" its'laige claws, as you have probably seen small ones do, and over we went headlong into the mud, each holding a claw, wliiie the crab took a lresh start for the water. We dropped the claws and soon had it, and a native rope soon had it powerless, although its struggles to escape and the strength displayed were marvelous, that is, in a crab. I found that the crabs came upon the shore every night and wandered about to feed, it is presumed, on the muddy fiats. Before morning we caught another and smaller one that had a spread of about ten feet. We have king crabs here, but these fellows were the king of the crab family, sure enough.— Philadelphia Times.