A laboratory evaluation by Van Montfrans et al.
(1986) with small Blue Crab (Callinectes
sapidus) of 18.2 to 27.6 mm carapace width
indicated high retention rates for CWT injected
into the basal muscle of the fifth pereiopod.
Retention in crabs that had molted at least once
was 88%, and retention through the second molt
was 100%. No significant differences in growth
or survival were noted between tagged crabs and
controls. In the 12% of crabs that lost their tags
at the first molt, it was observed that the tag had
penetrated a part of the endoskeleton that was
shed during molting. It was concluded that these
individuals had been improperly oriented during
the tagging process, and that the recorded
retention rate could be improved upon.