The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-07-17
TURTLE TOPICS.
A Geological Dissertation upon the Edible
Shellbacks.
From the Galveston (Texas) News.]

A Geological Dissertation upon the Edible
Shellbacks.
From the Galveston (Texas) News.]
Although Galveston Island can hardly
be termed land "where the voice of
the turtle is heard" the sight of a huge
green turtle basking in the sun on the
surface of the bay is by no means so
rare as to excite surprise. The steam
ships from the western coast often bring
large numbers on their way to an East
ern market, and the tables of gour-
mands, who delight to tickle their pal
ates with turtle, either in the shape OF
steak or soup. The varieties OF turtle
are numerous, and will only be sketched
in skeleton style in this article.
THE GREEN TURTLE
is one of the largest of the genus, often
measuring five feet in length, and weigh
ing about 500 or 600 pounds. The shell
consists of Is dorsal segments or divis-
ions, surrounded by rs marginal pieces,
and its form is somewhat heart-shaped,
or pointed at the extremity. 1t receives
its name from the fat, (which is of green
color. They feed on kind of grass
growing at the bottom of the sea and
gulf, commonly called turtle grass, and
are not found at any distance from the
places where this exists. The Isle of
Ascension is called by Sir j. E. Alexan-
der, ''the headquarters of the finest tur-
tie in the world" and his account of it
in that locality, which is subjoined, is
really interesting: "We walked down to
the turtle ponds, two large Enclosures
near the sea, which flowed in and out
through breakwater of large stones. A
gallows was erected between the two
ponds, where the turtle are slaugh-
tered for shipping, by suspending them
by the hind flippers and cutting their
throats. About 800 turtle, of 400 or 500
pounds each, lay on the sand or swan
about in the ponds, sight to set an al
derman mad with delight" The most
common way by which turtle are taken
is to catch them when they come ashore
to lay their eggs, and turn them on their
backs. In the Keelong Islands divers
venture into the waters and seize tur-
tie by the fippers, forcing the animal
to rise to the surface, when it is cap
tured.
THE INTOXICATED TURTLE.
IhlS animal derives It's name from the
scales overlapping each other at their
extremities, in the manner of tiles on
the roof of a building. The outline OF
the shell is more hear. shaped than any
other species, and terminates more
acutely; each of the middle row OF
scales on the back is also of an acute
form at the tip. and has ridge down
the middle. The head is smaller than
in other turtles; the neck longer and
the beak narrower, sharper, and more
curved, so as to bear no inconsiderable
resemblance to the bill of hawk,
hence the common or popular name
hawksbill turtle.' 1t is a native OF
the Asiatic and American seas, and is
occasionally found in the Mediterrane.
an. Its general length is about three
feet, though it is sometimes much larg.
er, and in the Indian Ocean specimens
have occurred of more than twice that
size. The flesh is held in no estimation
as an article of food, but the plates OF
the shell are stronger, thicker and
clearer than in any other kind, and af-
ford the valuable substance called s'tor-
toise SHE'LL" they are semi-transparent,
and elegantly variegated with whiteish,
yellowish, reddish and dark brown
clouds and undulations, so as to consti-
tute, when properly prepared and pol
ished, one of the most elegant articles
for ornamental purposes.