Blue Crab History

Calllinectes Sapidus is the latin word for Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs meaning ‘beautiful swimmer’. 

It is believed that the Blue Crab was among our nations first discoveries of seafood. Meaning that other tasty crabby shellfish wasn’t discovered until much later explorations. Since early colonial times Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs was served at our nation’s seafood feasts with numerous variations going back centuries and being adapted and taught throughout the years.

Before and during the colonization of North America (circa 1600’s) Blue Crabs were a very important food source for the Native Americans and European settlers. Their consistent abundance and delicate flavor made them perfect for any table or feast. The earliest fishermen very often complained of blue crabs, extolling how much a nuisance they were. They were constantly clogging up their nets and stealing the bait off their lines.  The complaining declined when the family was full and satisfied after the menu changed from fish to crabs. As early as the 1200’s, archeological surveys of the region have found crab remnants (in over 93 sites)-all pointing to the importance this crab has on America’s seafood history.

As our country grew so did the popularity and reach of the Blue Crab. The Northeastern states became more and more cosmopolitan with thriving restaurants, so much so that other Eastern U.S. cities we’re vying for dishes and recipes from the region.

In the 19th and 20th centuries crab recipes flourished.