The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-09
Value of Reptiles.

The class of reptiles is generally re-
garded as useless, if not noxious to man
kind; yet, in reality, it affords many
and varied products which serve as hui
man food, or as important substances
in the arts and manufactures. The first
of the reptiles to be mentioned in this
light are the Chelonians, including the
turtles and tortoises, whose flesh isevery-
where esteemed as an article of diet, and
whose eggs are sought both for eating
and for the oil that they afford. Edible
species of the tortoise and the turtle
abound in America, and are largely con-
sumed at home and exported to foreign
countries. A mandatory at Key West
annually puts up 100000 pounds of
turtlemeat for expectation, and employs
ten vessels and sixty men in collecting
the reptiles. Large establishments for
canning the meat, and preparing for
market the fat, ealipee, and gelatinous
portion of the fins of the turtle, exist in
Jamaica. In 1874 the export from ia
maica of these products amounted to
5,4S4 pounds The turtles consumed at
this point are brought from the shores of
the Gulf of Mexico, from Trinidad, Vera
Cruz, Honduras, and the Tortugas.
The turtle is an important article of
subsistence to the inhabitants in the
vicinity of the Amazons; and Mr.. Bates,
in his interesting notes OF "A Natural
list on the Amazons," devotes good deal
of space to an account of the methods
employed in capturing the animal and
its eggs. The great fresh-water turtle
attains an immense size, and its flesh is
tender and palatable The reptiles are
habitually kept by the Indians in little
ponds, as a resource in seasons of dearth.
The breeding places of the turtle afford
a busy spectacle at the time when it
comes up out of the water to lay its eggs
in the sand The natives assemble from
far and near, and encamp near the
ground for the sake of convenience in
harvesting the eggs and preparing the oil.
The destruction Of turtle-eggs every
year is, according to Mr. Bates, enor
nous. AT least 5000 jars, holding
each three gallons of the oil, are exported
annually from the Upper Amazons and
the Madeira to Para, where it is used
for lighting, frying fish, and other pur-
poses. 1t may be fairly estimated that
1000 more jarfuls are consumed by the
inhabitants of the villages on the river.
Now, it takes at least twelve baskets of
eggs, or about 5000, by the wasteful
process followed, to make one jar of oil.
The total number of eggs annually de-
stroyed amounts, therefore, to $4,000
000 As each turtle lays about 100, it
follows that the yearly offspring of 400,-
900 turtles is thus annihilated."
Tortoise-shell is another valuable pro-
duct derived from the Chelonians. The
finest variety is produced by the hawks
bill turtle. Twenty-Five tons of this
material are annually worked up in Great
Britain.
The flesh and the eggs of the alligator
and the crocodile are eaten by the ma
tives in many parts of the world while
their skins are tanned and converted
into leather for boots and shoes, horse
trappings, etc.; their teeth are carved
into ornamental Objects the oil ex-
tracted from the fat is of considerable
value in the arts; and musk used in
perfumery is obtained from certain
species.
The flesh of the iguana is highly es-
teemed in South America, and is cooked
in various ways. The eggs, which are
very glutinous, are also regarded as a
delicacy. Humboldt states that in
intertropical South America, all lizards
which inhabit dry places are much priced
for the table. .,..
The most highly civilized races regard
the hind quarters of the frog as an ele-
CANT dainty, but snakes are by univer-
sal consent considered unfit for food.
Still the flesh of all land-serpents is said
to be white, tender, and well.favored;
while an excellent leather is manu-
featured from the skins Of the anaconda
and other large species.