This is one of the slimmest springs we've seen in a long time, said Anthony Conrad of Parkville-based Conrad's Crabs & Seafood Market. The price ... is outrageous for a box of Louisiana male crabs, he said — typically about $250, it's now about $60 higher. The price for a bushel of Maryland crabs is lower — anywhere from $130 to $180 a bushel. But there aren't nearly enough Maryland crabs to supply Maryland restaurants. Conrad catches some of the crabs he uses for his restaurants and seafood market, and buys others directly from Maryland watermen.