immigrant workers

[dredgecrab]

why won't they let the pickers come? they are such hard workers. all the red tape that keeps them from coming just makes everyone lose money. from the state to the lowly crabber.

[jack1747]

I would love to hire some! 

[Crab Shack]

why won't they let the pickers come? they are such hard workers. all the red tape that keeps them from coming just makes everyone lose money. from the state to the lowly crabber.

Because the government hasn't figured out how to make money off of them yet...

[dredgecrab]

oh. well when all of this gets figured out there will be plenty of crabs for them to pick. all the regulations are working but at the expense of the waterman.

[rock n crab]

oh. well when all of this gets figured out there will be plenty of crabs for them to pick. all the regulations are working but at the expense of the waterman.

the regulations will only work if they are enforced and I have not seen this happen in the area I crab... for both rec and comms alike.

[horsefly]

HMMMM, Not sure where you are going with this. The red tape screw up that ya mentioned wasn't red tape at all. The returning worker program that was in place was a short term plan for Save are Small Business bill. Employers, were counting a extended stay of that program for H2b visas. When that didn't happen the first of the year, visa slots had filled up quick for start dates before April 1st leaving many picking houses....workerless. (Except for a few locals). Most picking houses don't apply for early start dates because of the uncertainty of the market demand or resource of crabs early spring. Don't blame the immigration folks for this, as this is part of Homeland Security. In short, yes the government should step in. First by, enforcing that work first program they have fills those jobs by the unemployed. Second, quit giving so many hand outs. Lastly, to ensure picking houses fair marketing, impose stricter taxes tariffs on all imported crabmeats, or cut/reduce the number of tons allowed. Until we fix some of those issues, whether we have local or migrant workers.....the picking industry will further decline, sorry.
Speaking of that, since it's tough both in the bushel mkt and picking mkt, I have never seen so many lay days and or for so long, some guys haven't had a mkt since Sat and wont until Thursday.

[genecrabman]

Looks like a good time to go to Disney World

[jack1747]

What do you mean by "Lay Day"?  I know what that means for shipping.  Do you mean days when the picking house will not be buying?  If so what is done with the pots in the water?   

[genecrabman]

What do you mean by "Lay Day"?  I know what that means for shipping.  Do you mean days when the picking house will not be buying?  If so what is done with the pots in the water?   

A lay-day is when the picking house won't buy any crabs.. The crabs are BUTT-DEEP here this year,and the lack of pickers is killing many crabbers.. Some picking houses are letting crabbers work on an "odd"-"Even" days. Like letting crabbers  work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays..And other crabbers work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday...Here in NC our pots have to be work atleast every 5 days..So far I haven't had a Lay-Day, but #2's are hard to sell, somedays we throw them back over.. Crabbing Commercially is SO MUCH FUN

[jack1747]

A lay-day is when the picking house won't buy any crabs.. The crabs are BUTT-DEEP here this year,and the lack of pickers is killing many crabbers.. Some picking houses are letting crabbers work on an "odd"-"Even" days. Like letting crabbers  work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays..And other crabbers work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday...Here in NC our pots have to be work atleast every 5 days..So far I haven't had a Lay-Day, but #2's are hard to sell, somedays we throw them back over.. Crabbing Commercially is SO MUCH FUN

i think it is 72 hours here.....  do you bare pot?  if not thats allot of $$$ to thro overboard... not even counting the hours...

[genecrabman]

Bare pot, or Blank Pot is peelering.. Yes we do that here too. I set 2 stands of pots and fish them every other day.. That way most of the small crabs will get out.. Most of the bait is gone on the second day,and you'll catch more Jimmies by letting the pots set a day longer..

[jack1747]

Bare pot, or Blank Pot is peelering.. Yes we do that here too. I set 2 stands of pots and fish them every other day.. That way most of the small crabs will get out.. Most of the bait is gone on the second day,and you'll catch more Jimmies by letting the pots set a day longer..

i dont think the guys here bait the big mesh pots...    I peeler pot and hardcrab pot.  Course, can't this year.  Bunker is gone the in about 48 hours this time of year...  I left some dead HH in the peeler pots and they were LOADED with small crab.  Maybe there is hope yet.  HC pots with the 4 rings, the bait is gone but only 2-4 crabs.

[Mr. Ray III]

Are you commercial?