To further clarify, I understand the medical use of horseshoe crabs for 
blood testing products has been going on for many years and can be, and is, 
done without the need to kill the crabs.  Obviously using them as bait 
requires they be captured and killed.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Janelle Dietrich" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 10:27 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Red Knots no more????


>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