Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-01
Salt Water Terrapins. rr- IL. HT VI Y.1z1


 The habitat of the salt water terrapin is ex- l tensive, it being found in the salt water mar shes along the coast from the east end of Long Island to Texas. It is easily distin- guished from the other varieties of the fami- 1 ly emydoide. It's upper shell is oval, and is covered with many plates, which are deeply impressed with numerous lines, giving a rough and uneven appearance. They are of dull ash brown color, sometimes approach ing black, unequal in size and varying in shape, some being six-sided, 8 few oblong while others are triangular thus the local name of ssdiamond back" has been given to the salt water terrapin in the city of Balti- ! more. The under shell is smooth, and va ries in color from reddish orange to pale yell low. Its neck is short and thick, and the head and limbs are of dark brownish color, covered with black spots. This brief descrip- tion will suffice for the terrapin found on the range from Montauk Point to the Florida Keys, but on rounding the coast the gulf ter rapin is found to be much coarser in shell and meat possessing 8 somewhat larger head, those of Texas being particularly gross. The dealers have divided this terrapin into three classes, based on the difference in their size. The largest are the females and are called the ''cows," and it is these that are prized so much by epicures. They only contain the eggs. They must measure SIX inches in length on the under shell and a little notched
 
 tion or not if so, they are known as 'sfull counts" The second class are of about five inches in length, and are called ''heifers ;" while the smallest of all are the males or "bulls,'' and are distinguished from young terrapin by slight groove which extends Iengthwise on the under shell, These ere only edible when used in soups.
 HOW THEY ARE TAKEN.
 The terrapin which reach our markets are either freshly caught or are from the pens where they have been retained until the sea. son opens. They are found by the terrapin hunters hibernating in the mud, and are ex- tremely fat and juicy. Along our coast, and especially where they are plentiful, persons make living by collecting terrapin. At very low tide the hunters sally forth, armed with their short spear shaped stick, to probe the marshes and bag their prey. The terrapin at the approach of cold weather leave the deep channels of the creeks and chamber up the sloping banks, where they bury them selve some six or eight inches in the mud. favorite place is on B shelving point at the intersection of narrow drain with some wide thoroughfare. Although hid from the eye and apparently snugly housed for their long winters nap, they leave signs behind which lead to their detection. Either an indenta- ton on the surface of the mud tiny hole gives the hunter his clew, and the stick soon glances off the shell of the recluse. It is quickly pried up and dropped in the bag. The labor of terrapin hunting is severe in the extreme, the mud being very soft and the hunter often sinking to his waist Seldom more than three or four full counts" can be caught on one low tide; indeed, it is lucky man who can average even two. At this season of the year the terrapin does not attempt to bite, although he is lively and restless when cooped up in box or barrel. Not so, however, is the terrapin when caught in the summer months; they are then vicious and bite with gusto, as if to get even with thesworld before making their exit. Penned terrapins are not so delicate as freshly caught X ones, nor do they possess the same flavor. Being netted in large seines and penned dur l ing the hot months of the year, the confine- ment deprives them of food on which they would naturally subsist. Although the pens are so constructed by the edge of the water l that every tidefiows over the entire enclosure, yet there is to the captive a feeling of ineom- pleteness. ]
 That terrapin breed while thus penned is I we'll known, and they even go so far as to lay I their eggs and the young hatch out but save 1 few that have been caught and placed in 4 aquariunls the majority of the youngsters 4 have made their happy go-lucky through the z