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Hardshell Crabs A Hard Find For 4th Of July In Md.

KENT ISLAND, Md. (WJZ) ― If you celebrate the 4th of July "Maryland style" with steamed crabs, it may be hard to get hardshells this weekend.

Suzanne Collins reports that's because of price and availability.

The crabs at Harris Seafood were sorted Thursday. Customers could choose between the all-you-can-eat medium feast or the large or jumbos.

But the crabs they'll get aren't just from Maryland.

"We have locals, we have North Carolina and we have Louisiana. It's definitely a mixture when you come here. We try to buy the best crabs available, no matter where it comes from," said Jerry Harris with Harris Crab House.

A survey conducted by Eyewitness News shows the price Thursday for a bushel of large crabs in Baltimore and on the shore is generally between $180 and $190. But one seafood retailer was asking for over $200.

"The demand for crabs hasn't been that great, and that kinda sets the price currently. And with gas prices and the wholesale down, these guys haven't made a lot of money," said Jason Ruth with Harris Seafood Plant.

A number of the work boats returned early Thursday morning and some of them only had one bushel of crabs.

That's because, at least in Kent Island, the supply of crabs is low, but the quality is good.

The crabs may be good, but they are sparse except in the lower bay. Now gas prices have multiplied the misery for watermen.

"What we say is it's killing us. Gas is really hurting us," said crabber Harry Davidson. "We're only catching a bushel or two of crabs, and expenses take about half of that usually."

But on the most traditional weekend of fireworks and crabs, desire for that Maryland experience has not dwindled.

"That's what it's all about, the holiday, picking them up, cracking them, eating them with fingers. It's wonderful," said Carol Polosky.

"We come down a month on average, Memorial Day, 4th of July because we really love the food, love the people here and of course the setting is gorgeous," said Betty Hess.

Even though it seems the 4th of July is the best time for crabs, Maryland crabs are much more plentiful in September and October.

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