THE USE OF HORSESHOE CRABS AS EEL BAIT

Freshly killed male and female horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) and alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) were tested as bait for freshwater eels (Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur)) in a Rhode Island estuary. Horseshoe crabs were superior to alewives and the heads of female horseshoe crabs were superior to their tails. Male crabs produced catches between those of the female heads and tails. When divided by the weight of the bait, catch rates of all horseshoe crab baits were similar. Horseshoe crabs might be useful in the commercial culture of eels.