Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-11-19
FISHING FOR TURTLES.
When the She'll Backed Monster Bites Rum
Like Steer.

When the She'll Backed Monster Bites Run
Like Steer.
Terrapin or turtle farms are run in
the South and on the Pacific coast, but
the business has only been tried in New
England as an experiment. AS expert
ments, many of these have been fail
ures SO far as money making basis is
concerned, and many are now kept up
for the pleasure of the owner, or by
some hotel keeper who takes pride in
serving turtle soup unad ultera ted
In Cum berland, R. g., there is a small
pond that is we'll stocked with this
toothsome food animal. 1t is a small
sheet of water, covering about an acre,
and located near Diamond Hill. This
small pond is fairly alive with the hard
shelled monsters. and many an hours
sports is found upon the banks The pond
is surrounded by meadow, and an early
visit, while the dew is on the grass,
shows innumerable small paths where
the turtles have been wa king for exer-
else and in search of food during the
night.
While there is great amount of
pleasure in eating turtle soup, there is
an equal amount in catching the Ncrit-
ter" During the early morning hours,
after his lordship has returned from his
walk is the best time to fish for him.
This may seem strange, but fishing for
them is the only method used here to
capture them. They will be motionless
near the surface their great heads
sticking out of the water like the end
of big stick. If fly or bug falls in
to the water, down goes the turtle, and
in an instant it has a luscious morsel.
An earthworm is a desirable feast for
turtle, and these are generally used
for bait. The tackle is very primitive,
and consists of a strong line and cod
fish hook. Bait the hook with a large
bunch of worms and throw in where
the turtle was last seen, or if it's head is
out of water, throw the bait directly in
front of it. The bite is very easy, and
when short pull on the line communi-
Gates the fact to the angler that turtle
is at the other end, he must act careful
ly and quickly. A sharp jerk will gen.
orally fasten the hook into the horny
mouth, and then the fun begins, espe
cially If the turtle is a forty-pounder.
1t is one thing to fasten on to the turtle
and another thing to land it safely.
The chances are greatly in favor Of the
turtle If novice is at one end of the
line, and an expert fares but little bet
ter If the turtle happens to take the
bait near the bottom. The great secret
in the landing of the game IS to keep it
from the bottom AS soon as the
turtle finds itself hooked it makes for
the soft mud on the bottom, and is as
safe there as a covey of birds which
takes to the swamp for protection when
pursued by the hunter.
The novice will invariably try to land
his first turtle by pulling in the line
hand over hand. By the time ten feet
Of the line is in there is a strong pull as
if snag had been struck, and it gener-
ally proves to be a snag. The turtle
sinks into the mud, and it is almost i'm
possible to move it.
The only way to land the game is to
take the line over your shoulder as soon
as you feel the strike, and run as fast
as possible AS long as the turtle is
kept in the water and on the jump you
are sure Of the game AS soon as it is
landed it is killed by shooting it in the
head.--Providence journal.