Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-26
TURTLE.CATCHING
At Midnight in Dolores Bay, on the Coast
of Eucatap,

The air was exquisitely soft and balmy,
and 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 glittered under our feet as we
sauntered along enjoying the beauty of the
scene. In this peaceful bay, six miles from
the eastern coast Of Yueatan, the Spanish
ships anchored nearly 400 years ego, and
the conquerors named the place Island Mu-
CERES, or Woman's Island, because in the
TEMPLES of the natives they found many
images of women. One of those quaint
sanctuaries still stands at the south point
of the island, on an eminence whose rocky
foundation is being washed away atom by
atom, by ever-seething waves that perpetu
ally dash against it. II is deserted spot,
the few inhabitants of the island all dwell
| ing 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
catching. SO on that moonlight night, as
we strolled along the beach, men, women
and children wended their way TO the
north end Of the island, whore all was silent
as the white tombstones in the village
graveyard By which we passed, some has
tening their steps as if they feared some
departed friend might stalk forth in wind
ing-sheet.
Reaching 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 falling to
select q spot above high-water mark, con
sequently at low tide they have to go a
good way up the beach Having chosen a
place they quickly make a 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; andin due
time the little turtles make their way out
and go straightway 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 without trouble,
for some weigh as much as 500 pounds.
The flaps are then tied and mark set on
the she'll so that when morning comes
each party may know which they have
captured. I he 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 match. AS for conchs-
most abundant in those waters-though the
shell is hard to break with hammer, the
cahuamo easily cracks it, TO eat the deli
cious contents.
The cahuamo, or hawk BILL is the largest
kind of turtle, weighing from 200 10 500
pounds. Its flesh tastes like good beef but
is generally left on the beach to rot and be
consumed by buzzards, the people not be-
ing numerous enough to eat it all, though
large quantities are dried and sailed to be
sold as ierlled 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 egg. the fat and
the she'll 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
great delicacy and taste very rich, but have
a strange sandiness that is unpleasant to
the palate.
The carey Caledonia imbricata) is smaller
and of more value. The least the islanders
will take for the shell Is two and a half or
three dollars pound; rather than accept
less they will keep it in their house from
one year to another The carey, as we'll as
the green turtle, is caught with harpoons
and nets. The green turtle is carried to
British Honduras, where they are worth
from 81 so to So each, the shell not being
used. The poor creatures are transported
in small sailing vessels where they lie on
their back on deck exposed to the scorch-
ing sun, and once day have buckets of
water dashed over them to keep them. alive.
tHarpers Bazaar.