The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-19
TURTLE-CATCHING
AT DOLORES BAY, ON THE COAST
OF YUCATAN.
watching the Turtles by Moonlight
Making Capture and Securing the
Captive-The Hawk-BIu and
the Carey-The Eggs.
IHarDer's Bazaar ]

The air was exquisitely soft and balmy,
aud the moon so brilliant that every fleet
ing cloud was reflected in the clear water
of Dolores bay, while the white sand of
the shore glitteTed under our feet as we
sauntered along enjoying the beauty of
the scene
In this peaceful bay, six miles from the
eastern coast of Yucatan, the Spanish
ships anchored nearly 400 years ago, and
the conquerors named the place Island
Mugeres, or Womans island, because in
the temples of the J atives they found
many images of women. One of
those quaint sanctuaries still stands
at the south point of the island on an
cminence whose rocky foundation is
being washed away atom by atom, by
ever seethiDg waves that perpetualIy dash
against It 1t is deserted spot, the few
inhabitants of the island all dwelling in
the village of Dolores. just in front of the
bay. Their principal industry is fishing.
and from the month of April TO August,
all their attention is given to turtle catch
ing. So on that moon light night as We
strOlled along the beach, men, women
and children wendell their way to the
north end of the island. where all was
silent as the white tomb stones in the
village grave yard by which we passed,
some fastening their steps as if they
feared some departed friend might stalk
forth in winding sheet
Teaching a place where thick bushes
grew, not far from the waters edge, all
concealed themselves behind the bushes
or in the shadows cast by them, and
from their hiding place watched silently
for the turtles. These prolific creatures
come to lay their eggs in the sand, never
failing to select spot above high water
mark, consequently at low tide they have
to go a good way up the beach. Having
chosen a place they quickly make hole
in the sand and deposit therein about 100
eggs, over which they again put the sand,
leaving the spot in appearance as they
found it, so that no one would discover
the nest but for the tracks of the turtle,
which Immediately returns to the water,
leaving the eggs to be Matched by the heat
of the sun; and in due time the little
turtles make their way out and go straight
way to the water.
When the turtle begins to cover the
eggs the people creep from their hiding
place and cut off her way to the water:
then, when she starts toward them they
capture her and turn her over, not with
out trouble, for some weigh as much as
500 pounds. The flaps are then tied, and
a mark set on the shell, so that when
morning comes each party may know
which they have captured The family
that catches two or three in night is well
satisfied
The turtles have formidable jaws, and
it is necessary to keep ones hands well
out of their reach, for they can break a
mans limb as We can q match. AS for
conchs-mOst abundant in those waters
though the shell is hard to break with a
hammer, the cahuamo easily cracks il, to
eat the delicious contents
The cahuamo, or hawk bill, is the larg-
est kind of turtle, weighing from 200 to
500 pounds. Its flesh tastes like good
beef, but is generally left on the beach to
people not being numerous enough to eat
it all, though large quantities are dried
and sailed to be sold as jeTked beef. Some
people once went to considerable expense
to preserve this meat, but we are told that
it turned bad in the cans
The people gather the eggs. the fat,
and the shell, though the last is worth so
little that they do not always take the
trouble to lift it from the beach; many are
scattered over the sand The eggs are
considered a great delicacy and taste
very rich, but have a strange sandicess
that is unpleasant to the palate.
The carey (Chelonia imbricata) is
smaller and of more value The least the
islanders will take for the shell is two and
a half or three dollars a pound; rather
than accept less they will keep it in their
house from one year to another. The
carey, as well as the green turtle, is caught
with harpoons and nets The green tur-
tie is carried TO British Honduras, where
they are worth from 81. so to So 90 each,
the shell not being used. The poor Great
ures are transported in small sailing YES
sells, where they lie on their back on deck
exposed to the scorching sun, and once
day have buckets of water dashed over
them to keep them alive.