This just in from SERC (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center) regarding a second mitten crab from the Hudson River, this one a small female found this fall. Those of you who dabble about in the waters of our fair state, please keep alert for mitten crabs. The first one in Rhode Island will undoubtedly be brought in by an alert citizen, not by a working scientist or environmental manager, and that person will become an instant celebrity! Think of the endorsement deals and get out there with your eyes peeled.

mitten-crab-update-dec-2007.pdf (16k)

Here’s a link to the SERC website: www.serc.si.edu/labs/marine_invasions/

By the way, it is interesting how idiomatic expressions are translated between American English and English English. In America we say, “peel me a grape, please, darling,” and hence we use the expression, “keep your eyes peeled.” Whereas in England, where they “skin” grapes, they also “keep their eyes skinned.” They also tip out their bin, take their rubbish to the tip, and move dirt in a tip truck…a virtually perfect one-for-one substitution for the American use of “dump.”

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