Hot, dry weather isn’t just hurting farmers’ crops. Maryland watermen say blue crabs have become scarce in the peak midsummer period because of warmer, saltier water in parts of the Chesapeake Bay.

The summer slowdown has put a damper on some Maryland crabbers, but projections show the state still may meet last year’s haul of 28 million bushels if crabbers do well this fall.

[Read](http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1197216 “Read the Story”) (AP via WTOP)