As a crab connoisseur and a lover of all things crab, you probably know a thing or two about Maryland’s most famous crustacean. You certainly know all about the delicious taste of Box Hill crab cakes. But did you know that a sizable amount of the crab meat in these crab cakes comes from blue crabs that were harvested in the Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay? Read on for more blue crab trivia.
Bottom Dwellers
Blue crabs are bottom dwellers, meaning they troll the bottom of the bay for food. Crabs aren’t terribly picky about their diet, they’ll eat just about whatever they can find. Clams, snails, fish both live and dead, vegetation, and even other crabs are all part of the blue crab diet. Their predators include striped bass, croaker, and red drum. As for their preferred habitat, male crabs seek out the fresher waters of the bay in Maryland, fed by its numerous tributaries, and female crabs are partial to the saltier Virginia waters. However, both males and females can live anywhere in the bay.
Physical Characteristics
Blue crabs are known for their blue color, tinged with an olive green and white underbelly. Females have red tips on the end of their claws, and can also be distinguished from males by the shape of their abdomen, which is more rounded than the males. Blue crabs shells can grow up to 9 inches across, and the largest ever harvested was a whopping 10.72 inches across and weighed over a pound!
Names and Nicknames
The blue crab’s scientific name is Callinectes Sapidus, which translates from Greek as “Beautiful swimmer that is savory.” The Greeks sure knew what they were talking about. Modern nicknames for the blue crab include “jimmies” for males and “sooks” for females.
Now that you’re armed with knowledge, take a powerful bite into one of our famous crab cakes!
About Box Hill Crab Cakes:
With a strong commitment to customer service and satisfaction in a family-friendly environment, our carry-out seafood restaurant is a popular regional eatery with long-time, faithful customers who come in weekly to enjoy the “World Famous Crab Cakes,” incredible Italian dishes, authentic Greek specialties and delicious hot and cold subs to name just a few of the menu favorites.
Boxhill’s Crabcakes, made from a secret family recipe, have grown in popularity for over 25 years.
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Sources
http://dc.about.com/od/restaurants/a/Maryland-Crabs-Things-To-Know-About-Blue-Crabs.htm
http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/fish-facts/blue-crab
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/blue_crab
Order Today!Tags: Box Hill Crabcakes, Maryland Blue Crab, Maryland Crab Cake