A pair of pivotally connected crossed arms define tongs having handles at one end and recessed jaw parts at the other. The recesses in the jaw parts are of a size to receive therein the pointed end tips of a crab shell whereby a crab may be easily lifted without danger of being clawed. One of the arms carries a scale and the other a pointer such that when the tips of a crab shell are engaged in the recesses the distances between the tips is instantly indicated and a determination made whether or not the crab is above a minimum size to be kept.