In order
to collect crabs on Dickens Seamount, we lowered a metal platform
or elevator loaded with crab traps over the side of the Atlantis.
The elevator was weighted with 135 lbs and had an acoustic release.
After 18 hours at a depth of 546 meters,
we triggered the release and the elevator floated to the surface.
Here we see the yellow transponder buoys floating by the ship.
The Atlantis crew grabbed the buoy line and hauled up the elevator
and traps that were dangling below.
As you can see,
our bait of cat food, herring and glow sticks worked
as there is a Scarlet King crab in one of the traps.
Starlight King crabs are from the genus
Lithodes, which means "rock-shaped".
Here we can see the crab's internal organs;
and these are the crab's gills.
We can tell
by the rounded shape of the apron that this crab is a female
and she happens to be a gravid, or egg bearing female.
Here we have a nice shot of her bright orange eggs.