, 1885-09-18
URTLE-CATCHING
AT DOLORES BAY, ON THE COAST
OF YUcATAN.
Watching the Turtles by Moonlight
Making a Capture anI Securing the
Captive The Hawk Bln and
tho carey-The Egrs-


lHarp~r's Bazaar
The air was exquisitely soft and balmy.
and the moon so brilliant thai every meet
ing cluud was reflected In tho clear water
If olores bay. while the white sand Of
the shore glltlcrcd under our feet as we
saunlered along en-. Dying the beauty of
the scene.
In tnis peaceful bay. six miles from the
eastern coast Of ucatan, the Spanish
shlps anchored nearly 100 years ago, and
the conquerOrs named the pace Island
Mugeres. or Womans island. because in
the temples Of the natives they found
many images OF women. Ono of
those quaint sanctuar es still stands
at The south point Of tho island on al
en- nence whose rocky foundation is
being washed away atom by atom. By
ever serlhing wa es that perpetually dash
against It. II is Il deserted spot. the few
inhab tanis OF the i-land all dwelling la
the village Of ! olores. Just In front Of the
bay their principal industry is fishing.
aud from the mouth Of April 10 August.
al their attention Is given TO turtle catch.
ing 30 on that nom light night as we
srolled along the beach. men, women
and CHI dren We, ded their way to the
north ed II the island. where all was
suent rs the white tomb tones In the
village grave yaId by which We passed.
some haste nng their steps as II they
fca ed some departed friend might stalk
forth IN wiudinS sheeL
ca ming Il place where thick bushes
gft ". not far rom tie waters edge. ali
c ncea ed tuemsci es behind the bushes
or n he shadows ,ast b. them. and
fr m their hiding place wat he'd silently
for INC turtles These pro ihc creatures
come TO q their ~ ; in-the sand. never
iail,ug To select q spot above high-water
mara. con c uent at low tide they Lave
10 gl n good way up The beach having
husei II pa they uicSiy make a hole
10 the sand and deposit therein about lOJ
eggs. o er which they again put the sand,
ltav ng he spot IN appearance as they
found t. So that no one would discover
tho nest but for the tracks Of the turtle.
which mn edlateiy returns 10 the water.
lea Tie egg, 10 be Matched by the heat
OF the run and In due time the little
turtles maNet their way out and go straight
Na, to the wafer.
Mhon the turi'e begins to cover the
eg S the enple creep from Their hiding.
pace und cut oil he way to the water,
then. when she starts toward them they
capture her and tdrn her over. not with
Oui trou lie, for some weigh as much as
U pounds The APPS arc then tied and
u hulk SGT Ol lut hutis 50 lnhl WntU
morning comes each party may know
VIII ch they have ca tured. The family
that en-, ches I'VE OF three in u night is wei
salts ed.
The turtles have formidable Jaws. and
IL IS ne, essary 10 keep ones hands well
gu OF their reach for they eau b.eak q
nlan $ limb as We eau u match. AS fol
conchs-most abundant in those waters -
though tue She Is hard to break with q
hainmer the cAhuamo easily cracks II. tC
eai the de icious contents
Tue canunm or hawk bill. Is the larg-
est kind of turtle, weighing from 20O to
81 pounds Its esh tastes | Ike good
beef, but is general left on the beach 10
rot and be consumed by buzlards. the
cope not being numerous enough TO eat
1t all. though large quantities are dried
and sailed l.. he sold as lerked beef. Some
people nee went to considerable expense
to preserve this meat. but we are told thai
II turned bad N tne cans 3
The people ga her the eggs the fat,
and the shell, though the last is worth so
httle that they do not always take the
trouble 10 lift Il from the beach; many are
scattered over the sand The eggs are
considered a great delicscy. and taste
very rich. but have u strange sandiness
that is unpleasant to the pa ate.
The care, Il hell mia imbrlcata) Il
sma er and of more value The least the
ISLANDERS will take for the shell is two and
a hall or three dollars q pound: rathel
than accept less they will keep it In theil
house fror II ear to another. Th,
carey, as well as the green turtle. is caugh'
with harpoons and nets. The green tur
I o is carried to / ritish Honduras. wher,
the, are worth iron Lao to - o each.
the shell not icing used. The poor Great
ures are transported in small sailing yea
seis. where they lie on their back on deck
exposed to the scorching sun. and once q
da have buckets Of water dashed ovel
tnem to keep them alive.