I believe that their fate was sealed the day someone discovered a 
commercial market for harvested horseshoe crabs (for fertilizer, I 
believe). For a long time folks long the Delaware Bay would harvest the 
dead or dying crabs along the shoreline. Once the discovery was made 
that the crabs could be caught in nets as they made their way toward 
land and long before they had the opportunity to deposit any eggs on the 
beaches, the decline of Red Knots became noticeable and probably 
inevitable.

Hi all again

After some further research, I have found horseshoe crabs are used as 
eel bait.  There is a large market for that particular purpose.  Horseshoe 
crabs also have many medicinal purposes--blood testing and for the 
treatment of burn victims.  It's a shame the three affected states can't get 
it together to see there is a large "ecotourism" market for these 
prehistoric creatures. Reminds me of the monarch butterfly situation in 
Mexico.  When will they ever learn!

Janelle Dietrich
Bowie, Md
Anne Arundel Bird Club