The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-03-10
FISHING FOR TURTLES.
when the She'll Backed Monster Bites Rur
Like a Steer.

When the Shell Lacked monster Dilcs nun
Like a Steer.
Terrapin or turtle farms are run in
Che 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 fall
ures, so far as a 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 unadulterated
In Cumberland, T. l.. there is small
pond that is well stocked with this
toothsome food animal. 1t is 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
sportis found upon the banks. The pond
is surrounded by a meadow, and an early
visit while the dew is on the grass,
shows innumerable small paths where
the turtles have been walking for exer-
else and in search of food during the
night
While there is a great amount OF
pleasure in eating turtle soup, there is
an equal amount in catching the crit
ter" During the early morning hours
after his lordship has returned from his
walk is the best tinae tn fish for him.
This may seem strange, but fishing for
them is the only methodsused 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 luscious morsel.
An earthworm is desirable feast for a
turtle, and these are generally used
for bait The tackle is very primitive,
and consists of strong line and cod
fish hook. Bait the hook with large
bunch of worms, and throw in where
the turtle was last seen, or If its 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
1y 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 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 a 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 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 strong pull as
If a snag had been struck, and it gener-
ally proves to be 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 ia
take the line over your shoulder as soon
as you feel the strike and run as rasI
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.