Shell Hardening in Snow Crabs Chionoecetes opilio Tagged in Soft‐Shelled Condition

Abstract Altogether, 1,591 commercial-sized (≥95 mm carapace width) male snow crabs were tagged and released in soft-shelled condition onto the commercial crab grounds of Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, during August 1984. Between September and December 1984, 68% of those animals released were recaptured by commercial crab fishermen. Among those crabs recaptured 31–60 d after release, 32.8% had recovered to a hard-shelled condition. The hard-shelled condition increased to 96% for crabs at large for 76–90 d and was virtually 100% for those at large for more than 90 d.