Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09


it is found, while the green turtle
increases in size as il gets southwark
Terrapins live in salt marshes near the coast,
and are seldom found far from it. The largest
Carolinas, the finest favored from about the
Chesapeake bay. The most important terrapin
nshery Is az Roanoke island. n C., and. with
the exception of Beaufort also in that state, IL
Is the only district where dredging and traps
are extensively used Crtil ls4s the business
as an industry amounted merely 10 local de-
mands In that year Capt. J. B. Ethridge
caught during the months of February and
March about 1000. which be sold in Norfolk
and Baltimore for ESQ. The news spread up
body and his brothers rushed into the business
with fervor that might have bankrupted and
broken up the California fever, which broke
out about the same time. had not the unreason-
able animals shown signs OF determination,
leaving the road. as with the other fever,
strewn with numerous financial corpses
Inc Chesapeake produces the best grades,
probably because Of peculiar adaptation OF
the food II affords for fattening and nAvoring,
or possibly on account Of It's being an inter-
mediate section between the larger and coarser
ones OF northern waters, and the smaller and
less desirable ones frequenting the southern
beaches.
PROCESSES OF GATHERING THEM.
The plan of cultivating them from the egg
has been, and is being tried. but so far without
any positive degree Of success or signs OF
promise. II is said that they grow about an
inch year-this being the case il requires six
TO eight years for a count" to arrive at ma
turity, which means a marketable size.
Therefore II is necessary 10 rely upon the nat
ural increase for the supply, and good deal
Of old-fashioned luck with a little skill for
catching them. The great majority of those
taken are undoubtedly caught mapping. In
the winter they hibernate BY burying them
selves in the mud. The lynx-eyed gatherers
prowl around looking for little mounds or
slight depressions in the mud which are sure
indications OF its whereabouts. Being in
torpid state they are easily yanked out. and
when they come TO their senses they have
probably arrived at some other seaport-a clear
case of abduction.
Another way of catching them is bya process
called bucking-but why SO called IL is hard TO
tell. This is done by means Of a haul-seine,
which is worked in creeks and marshes from
bateaux or canoes. The location of the OBJ
lecuye party is ascertained by humping
loudly on the gunwale or side OF the canoe.
This unusual noise appears to excite the Curl
osity of the colony and they begin TO pop their
heads above water-the women-folk in all
probability-to see what is going on and thus
the whole gang is discovered and the meshes
set for their capture. staff at one end of
the seine is stuck in the mud forthwith and
the net thrown out in the form of a circle. after
which il is rapidly drawn into the center and
hauled into the boat
The 'torch-light" is another way, espe-
cially resorted to by the colored
beeches at night with large fre-brands
and catch the terrapin as they come out to de-
post their eggs.
There is also trap for taking them. which
consists Of a cylinder of nettiLg somewhat like
a New Jersey lobster-pot, having a funnel
shaped opening at each end. After being
temptingly baited il is fastened-to a stake at
the surface OF the water, and the animals with
out fear or invitation walk right in and help
themselves as freely and complacently il az
a Washington reception-only they are not
allowed to depart so easily TO come again
another day.
The most singular method Of taking terra
pin. however, is hunting them with dogs
This, too, is favorite way of the colored fra
ternity, and completes pastime with the old
umey coon hunt. The dogs are trained 20 track
the terrapin from the water-line 10 the places
where they lay their eggs during the breeding
season. or follow their trails through the
marshes In summer,
HOW THEY ARE CLASSIFIED.
When taken, those worth keeping are di-
vlded into three classes counts" ''heifers"
and bulls" The females attain a larger size
than males and are much more highly priced
The average length is about inches and
weight to 6 pounds. Terrapin having that
length and weight are known as ''counts"
"heifers" and bulls" the latter being very
inferior and the price correspondingly lower.
When these latter little gentlemen are very
diminutive and promise nothing whatever they
are often thrown back into the sea. with the
hope that such display OF humane kindness
wlll induce them to grow up and present bet
ter and more marketable showing some other
season.
WHAT TERRAPIS FEED UPON.
The larger portion of the supply is caught in
summer and penned in ''craxls" and fed until
wanted for market. Just what the diamond
back feeds upon in his native element is not
exactly known, but most PROBABLY upon such
matter, both animal and vegetable. as il is able
to find. When penned preparatory 70 sending
them to market they are fed upon crabs. oys-
ters and fish and such vegetation as they can
get within the limits of the pen. To give them
finer flavor, they are said to be fed upon
celery Tor some days previous to being served.
POINT WELL WORTH NOTING.
IT, as it is said, the literary attainments of a
nation are to be judged by the accomplishments
of its cuisine, and it, as it is alleged terrapin
can be made the most delectable of all delicious
dishes, Philadelphia can claim to be the epitome
of American culture, for more than one-half of
the terrapin catch is sent 10 and sold in that
city. Boston and the Bostonese. with their
brown-bread. baked beans. Bunker Hill and
John Sullivan must be folded up and laid
away for future use and reference-in some
other line. As terrapin market, next
to Philadelphia is Baltimore, and New
York comes third. The demand in Washi-
ngton is not great, comparatively. but in
the preparation and service of diamond back
terrapin, it is point well-worth noting that il
stands permanently in the lead, and can teach
even Philadelphia lesson or two worth learn
ing about how to dine and delight New Workers
on terrapin and steamed oysters