Crisfield in Somerset County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Crab Scrape
The design of the crab scrape is very similar to that of an oyster dredge, with a metal fame and an attached collection net that is 7 feet in length. However, the crab scrape, unlike an oyster dredge, does not have metal teeth. An empty scrape weighs about 40 pounds, and when full it is considerably heavier. The crab scrape was invented in Crisfield, in 1870, by L. Cooper Dize.
Scrapes are primarily used to catch peelers and soft crabs. The boat pulls the crab scrape through the eelgrass beds where crabs typically hide. Each draw of the scape is known as a "lick." The waterman must pick through the eelgrass to separate out the crabs. Frequently other bay creatures are also picked up by the scrape.
Erected by Crisfield Heritage Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 37° 58.682′ N, 75° 51.572′ W. Marker is in Crisfield, Maryland, in Somerset County. It can be reached from the intersection of Spruce Street and 9th Street, on the right when traveling east.
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Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Crab Shedding Float (here, next to this marker); Crab Pots (here, next to this marker); African American Watermen of the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker); Hand Tongs (here, next to this marker); Oyster Dredges (here, next to this marker); Skipjacks and Bugeyes (here, next to this marker); Drop Tongs (here, next to this marker); Watermen of the Tangier Sound (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crisfield.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
