She Crab

Female crabs are called "sooks" (mature adult) or "she-crabs" (immature) and have rounded aprons on their underside and red tips on their claws. The apron on an immature crab is triangular, but not as wide as a mature adult crab. She crabs are famous for she-crab soup.

She-crab soup is believed to stem from a Charleston legend. While president William Taft was visiting the mayor of Charleston, the mayor asked the butler to "dress-up" the crab meat soup, which was a pale color. The bulter added the orange crab eggs, which added color and flavor to the soup. Thus, the famous Charleston soup was born. Crabs carrying eggs are know as "sponge" crabs.