# What is the purpose of the numbering on this tray **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413 "2022-08-26T21:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/1 "2022-08-26T21:16:29Z")
We received this crab tray as part of a gift. As you can see, there are numbers around the edge. Does anyone have an idea of their purpose? My WAG is it has something to do with sizing crabs, but just a WAG. ETA: the tray is about 20” in diameter [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/hWGnAfI.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/DFA1XXB) ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/2 "2022-08-26T22:12:35Z")
It looks like latitude indicators you’d get if you sliced a geographic globe in two at the poles. Which doesn’t have a strong link to crabs. … unless one believes the legend that the continents rest on a layer of giant multi-legged monsters whose pincers are the size of Ireland. _ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn_ ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/3 "2022-08-26T22:19:15Z")
Crabs all the way down 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/4 "2022-08-26T22:19:20Z")
The product description for the tray says “boasting a bright red crab, **nautical trim** …” ‘’ So yeah, I think it’s just decoration to suggest a nautical compass. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/5 "2022-08-26T22:32:53Z")
Thanks all, guess I over thought it ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/6 "2022-08-27T03:45:11Z")
Someone on this board overthinking something? Inconceivable! (grin) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/7 "2022-08-27T22:22:17Z")
I think it’s to keep track of how many crab claws you’ve eaten so no one at the table gets more than their share. I just made that up. 🦀 And wanted an excuse to use the crab emoji. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/8 "2022-08-28T18:13:05Z")
My guess is it has something to do with wagering. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numbering-on-this-tray/970413/9 "2022-08-28T18:42:40Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > It looks like latitude indicators you’d get if you sliced a geographic globe in two at the poles. Which doesn’t have a strong link to crabs. I’m pretty sure Heracles answered it in one, but I love the idea of some kind of crab roulette.