Season's first snow crab catch auctioned

YONAGO, Japan - The season's first haul of snow crabs is put up for auction at Sakaiminato port, Tottori Prefecture, on the Japan Sea on Sept. 5. One case containing 30 kilograms fetched prices ranging from 53,000 yen to 25,000 yen, little changed from last year. Local fishermen said the snow crab haul at the port has been on the constant decline. Last year's catch totaled 12,330 tons, way down from the peak level of more than 30,000 tons.