Serum protein concentration and somatic index in relation to morphometric maturity for male snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio (O. Fabricius, 1788), in the Baie des Chaleurs, Canada (Decapoda, Brachyura)

The serum protein concentrations of juvenile and mature male snow crabs, Ch ionoecetes opilio, were measured using a refractometer. The somatic indices of juvenile and mature male snow crab were calculated using the weight of the dry flesh of the chelae versus its wet weight. Results indicate that ju venile male snow crab have significantly higher serum protein concentration s and significantly lower somatic indices than their mature counterparts. T hese observations are attributed to basic physiological differences that co uld be explained by a terminal moult.