The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-09
4 rROSsssHOMAE xuarLxR.


new T1seaos ere CAa9he $50 Ne Uses shaN
are MsAs 81 Ths0.
Here comes o man." said . savant,
=" who collects more turtle shells than any other
man in the country"
"Mornin'. gents" said the turtler referred to.
putting down hamper. and wiping his fore
head with many -hued bandana. He was a
short. round shouldered man in half-sailor
toys. with shirt collar low In front. showing a
brawny chest haired like gorilla. His ears
wsre pierced with silver rin9s and on his
thumb was an enormous orabwood ring with
The operoulum OF some moliusk set In. o
brazen Imitation OF cate eye. His other
fingers were adorned with rings OF India ink.
while on his wrist. out from under the sleeve.
pesped the head OF an impossible Goddess Of
Liberty. Altogether he was what is generally
known in novels 90 an old sea dog.
i've got as flno q skiicton OF a hawksbili."
no said. addressing the professional man.
'as 70 ever clapped yer eyes onter. and I'd
jest like TO show 1t TO ye. He's y judge. he is."
said tho old chap winking at the reporter.
He knows wot's wot. he does and. hauling
"a iin S NEW one Il was. nawksbiii and pcr,cct,
about two feet In length, arranged on stand
upright, The back or scales were polished on
aud the breastplate still 10 plnce. though mr..
ranged on Hilt hinges, 80 that IT opened and
swung oIsn ali the interior was exposed. show
ing thu, curious manner in which the back
bone. ribs and she'll were all welded together.
ued the old turtler; .its Jest ~ natral as liie
and twice as handy. .,,.. .,,-. q,
" IL there . demand for this sort Of thing 2"
museums want this kind O. work for studyin.
reg'lar and shipshapc: nothing to affect tho
sensitive natur and esthety ieellns Of. the pp.
S1s sss siGdo S On o
TIL e.. shs
rs made Jest for this class. o. trade II the gal.
don't want to look at the critter's ribs and
backbone tt keep II shet; and turn 1t about. and
Pm FL LORD bless r. 9s ;ha dSpi fix a s%
Sn ssa a iS sT sse sSss
business. Every spring. about. gifts down on
s sSuS esoy anf eays e ths
ringers they'd punch hole through the shel;
Fish caught ~ questioned the reporter.
tier; TIC estchin's oil done BY fish. The fish
Us HE rs,.o,s" M IN the snyan t. ,,.
Wall these are eiias ioliorin' sharks nnd tnr:
tio6 aOOuL. Uu WH0u tuoy kit StEou tucy Aiuu
turn over an fasten ON tor the critter and ride
along. heap OF these reDOTas ia caught and
kept in tubs aboard the boats. and when 6shin'
loop In It Tor a line. Everything 81 ipshape we
scnlls along. and when a hawksbili 10 sighted
u line is hooked onter tho fish and he is tossed
overheard, and. SEEM his old friend, on he
2 hauled In, and no ain,t hnrted q biz Fust.
they re good for food then the skeleton. COM
plete Ike this ERE. soils to museums and the
like then the best and most valuable part O. the
business is tho big shells. that goes to make
combs watch chains. ping. bracelets. fur nitur,
apd about everything. Only the biggest and
oldest SLi. pieces Is wanted for these. and they
DO turtles have any enemies ?" We asked.
turtles and loggerheads with flippers eaten
short on, and once 500 fight betwfx 'em
Tho old loggerhead was asleep H-lyin' on the
top OF the water, when along KEN an old man
eater shark and grabbed him by the fipper
Then 1t was nip and tuck. and the way the
water was tossed around was a caution.
reckon the turtle got a grip on one Of the
sharks fins. as they was rOllin' over and oveI
liko ball and the water about EN- was 90
bloody as i an OK had been killed there. We
pulled W. to EN-. but they went down afore We
got near enough to pin EN-.
Yes loggerheads will bite. but they're &C
clumsy that it's easy enough TO git out OF the
way. Green turtles never try It,"