The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-31
CATCHING TURTLES.
They Visit the Florida Coast and
Become Captives.
PECULIARTIEs OF THEIR FOOD
Most of Them are Caught for the New York
Markets-All About the Fine
Varieties.

There are five species of turtle that in
habit the warm waters adjacent to the
coast of Florida. OF these the green turtle
is the most highly priced for the superior
quality of its meat This is of a straight
grain and tender, light in color, and of a
peculiarly delicious flavor In the Key
West markets it brings a higher price than
any other turtle meat. The green turtle
derives its name from its color Its head
is remarkably small, and, unlike any other
turtle. its jaws are of size and shape that
permit the upper one to fit into the lower.
The shell of the green turtle is about the
thickness of stiff paper and is Of no value.
The general average weight is from 400
to 500 pounds. Sometimes on the fishing
grounds off Cedar Keys monsters of LOCO
pounds weight are caught. The largest
ever landed at Cedar Keys weighed LOO
pounds. The green turtle inhabits grassy
bottoms and subsists entirely on turtle
grass 1t is obliged to come to the surface
every hour to breathe or elbow"
The hawk's-bill turtle derives its name
from the shape of its bill, which resembles
that of hawk. This variety gives to the
world the material out of which are made
! bllC OcduGilul UOItOlSC SuCll GUILDS anu
other ornaments so dear to the feminine
heart. The shell, which brings from 81 to
Sc per pound, according to its quality and
the demand for it, completely covers the
turtles back, and is invariably arranged
in thirteen rows This remarkable uni
| formity in the number of rows regardless
of the turtles age is observed in all the
varieties of the reptile.
/ IL se
| of other species, rarely exceeding $50
pounds in weight. Its meat is palatable
and wholesome, but of darker color than
that of the other varieties. 1t is usually
found on rocky bottoms and subsists on
sponge and grass The hawk's-bill re-
mains under water longer than any other
turtle; it comes to the surface to elbow"
only once in six hours, either the last of
the flood or the beginning of the ebb.
VARIOUS KINDS OF TURTLES.
The loggerhead ranks next to the hawks
bill in point of value. 1t attains about the
same size, although specimens weighing
800 pounds have been caught It's meat is
of about the same quality, but its shell
drops in value to twelve or fifteen cents a
pound. The shell is used for making cheap
combs and buttons. This species of turtle
inhabits rocky bottoms and subsists on
sponge, grass and conch Shells Its jaws
and teeth are of such remarkable strength
that it is enabled to and does indulge in the
delightful delicacy of the hardest and
strongest conch shells. The loggerhead is
frequently seen on the surface of the wa
ter, when it comes up to blow, which it
does every half hour, holding in its jaws a
conch weighing five or six pounds.
The bastard turtle is the offspring of the
green and loggerhead turtles. 1t is the
smallest of all, rarely attaining Il weight of
over 100 or $50 pounds. The flesh is edible,
but not so highly priced for food as the
other varieties already mentioned. The
trunkback turtle is the largest of all, fire.
quently reaching weight of 800 pounds.
Turtles are simply summer visitors, mi
grating to our shores about the early part
of May and leaving them for deeper water
and warmer chimes about the latter part of
December. A few ''tramps," as they are
; termed, are, however, occasionally caught
during the winter months. Turtles have
sometimes been encountered hundreds OF
miles from land, travelling in schools Of
several thousand.
There are four methods employed on the
D American coast for the capture of turtles
III llle NdlcTS VI NOEUu 1dTOllIld luSy art
caught by diving the following manner
j, The turtle fisherman ties the painter o.
I his boat to his leg and rows leisurely
. along until one is seen. He approaches il
and dives upon it from the boat, and, seiz
4 ing the anterior edge of the carapace will
one hand and the posterior edge with The
other, se turns the head of the turtle up
ward, when the reptile Immediately rise
a to the surface, bringing the fisherman will
s it. If the water is deep, the fisherman
:, steers the turtle toward shoaler spot
n keeping hold of it with one hand and will
a the other pulling the boat after him
; When a suitable place is reached ne hoist
e the turtle into the boat
a METHODS OF CAPTURE.
d Another method is to strike the turtl
4 with spear, or gauge" having a lonl
t line attached, but this method has beel
g very generally abandoned. as it often in
q jures the turtle to such an extent as to de
It crease its market value.
d In the breeding season the female turtl
crawls upon the beach, selects warm
e sandy spot. digs a hole with her flippers
e and deposits her eggs to be Matched by tn