@Larry B,
or if one lived on the waterfront and kept a few limits in a commercial trap
under their tie up float, like happened in a few places, this was also in court as in possession of more than one limit of crab.

My father in law used to clean them and keep them on ice for 24 hours. so they were not cooked whole or right away, but were processed.... but he did have to keep the shells. I don't know if that would hold up in court today.