Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-02
MILLIONS IN TURTLES.
Deputy sheriff AIlIng's of Duval County
Giving away his 1urtle Farm.

Deputy Sheriff Allin& OF DuV3l County
Giving away HIS turtle Farm.
H. T. Alling, who has recently been APP
pointed deputy sheriff of Duval county
has Travelled extens vely all over the
United States and South Florida and is a
close observer. Hearing that he had
given the question of turtle farming a
great deal of attention, a reporter OF the
Jacksonville Times Union called on him
for his views on this subject.
"What is your opinion of turtle farm
ingg asked the reporter of Mr.. Alling.
''WeIl. from what | know Of green tur-
tie, as they are found in certain portions
of Florida. | don't know OF any other
speculation that will compare with it;
$4,000 invested in a turtle farm will, at the
end of 5 years, return the principal to-
gether " it'll the interest at not less than
40 per cent. per annum, compounded, to
say nothing of a subsequent return which
will be equal annually to that OF the fifth
year."
Upon what do you base your conclu-
sions?"
''WelI, eleven-twelfths of the supply of
green turtle that 30 Into the New York
market come from the waters Of South
Florida and the West Indies. This supply
is annually decreasing about 10 per cent.
This fact will insure future prices being
at least as high as they are now. One
female green turtle, weighing from 300 to
400 pounds, will lay from four to eight
times during the season, and from 100 20
$50 eggs each time. Say she lays fourtimes,
which is less thar the average, and 100
eggs each time, which is also below the
average, her seasons laying will amount
to 400 eggs. or these 400 eggs when layed
and Matched, under ordinary circum-
stances, not more that two or three, in all
probability, will ever come to maturity.
This great waste 10 due TO the enemies of
the turtle. The eggs are layed in the
sand, the youn turtles when Matched be-
ing about the size Of a silver dollar and
their shells cartlaginous. They meet at
the edge Of the water a small species of
shark and great numbers of barracuda and
a great majority OF them are devoured be-
fore they can get into deep water. If these
young turtles could be protected from
their natural enemies and at the same
time kept within control, there is no res
son why turtle farming, or the raising of
turtles, should not be wonderfully remu-
nerative. This could be accomplished, l
think, by stretching across the mouth OF
some of the c6vns which indent the west
ern coast Of Biscayne Bay, in Dade
county, a fence Of galvanized iron wire
net with about an inch mesh. ! am &C
quainted with a locality where such a
fence could be constructed at a cost not
TO exceed $1,2 0 that would enclose about
500 acres oil water. This cove is entirely
suitable for the purpose, being a natural
resort of a large number of turtles at pre-
sent, Containing deep water for them to
lay in during cold, weather, as we'll as
banks and shoals for feeding grounds. 1t
is also surrounded on the land side by a
dense growth of mangToYes, the foliage of
which is the best possible food for turtles.
They could be fed in this way, ia addition
to what they would naturally getfrom the
space enclosed With a minimum cost and
trouble. After having enclosed this cove
[ should seine 1t for the purpose Of remov-
ing all enemies of the young turtle. l
should then stock it with 100 female tur-
tles Of not less than 800 pounds weight. The
number OF eggs laid by these 100 turtles
during the first season would be over 49,
600. Every turtle egg deposited in the
sand will hatch. Protected from their
enemies, with an abundance of suitable
food, there is no reason why a very large
percentage of these 10000 should not com
to maturity. But to be o the safe side
we will say only One-half come t. maturity
or the age of 3 years. You would then
have, 5 years after your investment, 90
600 marketable turtles. A turtle 4 or D
years old will bring more per pound b a
az older one. At years a turtle will
weigh from thirty to forty pounds. Sup
pose they only weigh twenty pounds; tur-
ties of that weight are worth nav IN New
York market from y to Is cents per
pound The price must constantly In
crease with the diminishing supply. Sup
pose L only get 20 cents per pound, that
will give me $500 apiece for my turtle or
$4,000 for my 10000 turtles. Suppose
that my figures, which have been below
the minimum to start with and twice cut
in half, are still TOO large, inc suppose
that | only realize $40, 900 for the first five
years profit, that would be a very respec-
table return for the 1900 which it would
be necessary to invest. And remember,
too, that this is not the end, but only the
limit OF your annual income, or the result
of the first years laying. Alter 8 years
there is no reason, that | can see, why
these figures should not represent the an
nual output OF the farm. iias "a
A ksaid, it would cost In the locality
| have in view, $1,000 to construct the
fence. Female turtle weighing from 300
10 400 pounds can be bought for three
cents per pound. That together with the
cost of collection and transportation,
would make my hundred brood turtle cost
me about 81 500. Add to these two items
bAD NOot VI Auu 5tthm Aohhbb5 tOACtnCi
with a scow and drag for collecting food
from the neighbOring banks and bars, and
you have the total amount necessary for
the enterprise. The brood turtle cost me
only 3 cents per pound; this is because
turtle of that size are not salable. Those
Weighing from twenty to forty pounds will
bring a better price per pound thar at any
other age or size.
''rerTapins have been, and are being,
%prOftahly raised in this manner in Mary
land, Delaware and New Jersey, and
inasmuch as green turtles are worth
double per pound what terrapins are, 1
can't see why this plan is not entirely
p~roftable|'