How many diverse entertainments does children's time have in itself? Great variety. Each of them is remembered with great pleasure, and some develop into serious hobbies. A good example of this is fishing and hunting for crayfish. The hours spent on the river bank with a fishing rod and a jar of worms bring great pleasure to the kids. But I was more interested in arthropods, so I was very worried about where the crayfish winter.
For a long time, I tormented this question with my parents and all their friends. This continued until I turned to grandfather with him. It was he who told me not only about where the crayfish hibernate, but also many interesting facts related to them.
Crustaceans live only in reservoirs with fresh and clear water. They have long become a kind of "litmus test" to determine the degree of environmental pollution. Therefore, their presence in any pond or river with running water indicates a favorable environmental situation.
Crayfish are a favorite treat for both children and adults. After wandering along the river and catching a whole bucket, the boys rush to make a small fire and cook them right on the shore. Adults prefer to cook crayfish at home and serve with beer.
From my grandfather’s story, I learned that crayfish live in deep burrows along the coast. Their shelter is very similar to our apartments. A long corridor reaching three meters, and several rooms. The largest chamber has a "bedroom", and several side "rooms" are designed to store supplies.
Although crayfish eat mostly plant foods, they are not averse to eating various bugs and worms. To search for food far from the hole do not depart. And if you caught this arthropod in a certain place, you can always come here. Somewhere nearby is a den.
Where do crayfish hibernate? In these "apartments". Sometimes a large number of residents are packed into the far chamber, and at one time you can collect about half a bucket. Fishing in the winter is quite difficult. Not knowing the specific location of their home, it is very difficult to get a catch. Therefore, "fish spots" should be looked after in the warm season.
Finding them in the summer is not difficult. Having noticed one cancer in the water, carefully inspect the bottom and shore in a radius of 3-5 meters. When digging moves and minks with claws, the cancer pulls the soil to the entrance and folds it around. The presence of small heaps of earth, forming a kind of ring - a sign of the den.
In the summer you can catch both the female and the male. Distinguishing them is very simple. Who is in front of you will tell the color of the shell. Males are green and females are light blue. In winter, you can catch only the fair sex. What is the reason for this? With the breeding of offspring.
The mating season is in October. For two full weeks, active mating takes place, after which the males climb into the mink and hibernate. The female first lays a hundred eggs, which are located on the abdominal legs, and only after that goes to the place where the crayfish hibernate.
Young offspring appears only in May. But for the entire period of transformation of caviar into crustaceans, mother should go for a walk several times along the bottom of a snowy river. This contributes to the full development of offspring. At this point, the crayfish can be caught without destroying the mink. But in this case, caviar will die, and even being knee-deep in icy water, looking for a treat for the table, is not particularly comfortable.
In the old days, winter crayfish fishing was a very cruel punishment for serfs. After several hours spent in the icy river, the peasant contracted pneumonia or died of hypothermia. Sending the offender for such an execution for the tiniest offense, the landowner had a dish of boiled crayfish on the table, but in most cases he lost his employee.