The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-03-24
GATHERING UP TURTLE EGGS,
How They Are Collected in Vast
Quantities on the Coast of Burmah.

0UhAL1IA0S Oh Cue COabC OF 6Q1maQ.
at the mouth Of the Bassein river
which is branch outlet Of the Irrawadg
on the Pegu coast of Lower Burman. are
several small islands, much frequented
by the turtle Astounding on those shores
Diamond Island, where ships usually
take up pilots to enter the port of Bas
seln-that town being nearly ninety three
miles up the river only half square
mile In area, surrounded by reefs OF
rocks mostly covered at high tide, leaving
narrow strip of ssud all round, the
land above rising to fifty feet elevation,
with thick jungle growing over it. A
pllot-house with flagstaff and telegraph
buildings stand in a clearing on the east
side. This island is the great resort CT
oil the large turtles which lives in those
waters; and nightly throughout the year
they come out to the narrow sand fore
shore to lay their eggs. The right Of
collecting these eggs is sold by public
auction every five years. and the present
lessee pays 1900 rupees annually to the
Indian Government. The turtles are
themselves protected by stringent regula
lions, and person detected killing one
IS liable to fine of 500 rupees.
During the month Of April egg CO llectirg
is prohibited and the eggs laid in that
month have every chance of coming to
maturity, and SO Keeping up the supply
1t Will surprise many readers to learn
that one turtle will lay from eighty to
$50 eggs during one night, the number
depending partly on the season Of the
year; and it is believed that the same
turtle returns frequently and will proba-
bly, lay from 500 to 1000 eggs in the
year. To form an idea of the number of
turtles that frequent this island it may
be mentioned that, while the contractors
rent per month, with expense of collect
ing, is estimated at 1900 rupees, he gets
an estimated profit of 1000 rupees
monthly, the selling price for the eggs
being 2 rupees per 100; this represents
collection OF $4,000 eggs in the month";
or ALTO daily, which taking 100 eggs as
the average lay of one turtle, requires AZ
turtles every night to visit the sands and
deposit their eggs. The space where
they can lay is so limited that il is difficult
to imagine what they could do if they
were allowed to multiply for twelve
month. They come up on the night low
tide and dig hole in the sand, or rather
work out an Old hole, as the whole fore
shore above high water mark consists of
old holes and intervening hillocks. When
the hole is ready the turtle lays her eggs |
and scrapes the sand over them again
with her tlippers. The whole process oc
cupies about two hours, and the turtle
then makes for the sea. 1t always hap
pens that considerable number of them
do not reach the water until the reefs
have become exposed by the falling tide;
and though they are fair travellers on sand,
they cannot get on when the path
is over rocks, SO they have to remain on
the rocks with their noses in a pool of
water, until the returning tide reaches
them. In the morning the spearman,
whose duty it is to find the nests, comes
round and follows each track, which is
broad and distinct, until he reaches a
nest. Into this nest he thrusts his spear
to depth of two or three feet, and on
its withdrawal he Can at once see if the
point has passed through an egg. II the
lest has been used during the night he
sets up mark there and the diggers
and carriers coming after him halt there
o collect the eggs. The eggs are dug
'ut by hand and thrown together in
heap until the nest is cleared they are
hen transferred to the basket, and are
inally stored on the floor of hut made
If open bamboos. The skins of the eggs
ire tough and will stand great pressure
without bursting, and they will keep
rood about five weeks. About twice a
month they are sent away up the coun
ry in boats for sale. They are richer
han hens eggs, but make rather tough
'meiets. The Burmese consume them
argely.
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