The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-29
CATCHING TURTLES.
THEY VISIT THE FLORIDA COAST
AND BECOME cAPTVEs.

bomeulhg ABOUT the HiNe Narieies
Found There--PecuIiarities Of Their
Food-Most of Them Are Caught for the
New York Markets-Kept in "Crawls."
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 straight
grain and tender, light in color, and of
peculiarly delicious flavor. In the Key
West markets it brings 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, it's 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 |, 200
pounds weight are caught. The largest
ever landed at Cedar Keys weighed /, 200
pounds. The green turtle inhabits grassy
bottoms and subsists entirely on turtle
grass. II is obliged to come to the surface
every hour to breathe or "blow."
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
the beautiful tortoise shell combs and
ether ornaments so dear to the feminine
heart. The shell, which brings from "a to
% 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.
The hawk's-bill does not attain the size
of other species, rarely exceeding $50
pounds in weight, Its meat is palatable
and wholesome, but of a 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 "blow''
only once in six hours, either the last of
the food 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
300 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 1t
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 a 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 a weight of l, 500 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 climes 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
American coast for the capture of turtles.
In the waters of North Carolina they are
caught by diving in the following manner:
The turtle fisherman ties the painter OF
his boat to his leg and rows leisurely
along until one is seen. He approaches it
and dives upon it from the boat, and, seiz-
ing the anterior edge of the carapace with
one hand and the posterior edge with the
other, re turns the head of the turtle up.
ward, when the reptile Immediately rises
TO the surface, bringing the fisherman with
1t. II the water is deep, the fisherman
steers the turtle toward a shoaler spot,
keeping hold of it with one hand and with
the other pulling the boat after him.
When a suitable place is reached he hoists
the turtle into the boat.
METHODS OF CAPTURE.
Another method is to strike the turtle
with a spear, or gauge" having long
line attached, but this method has been
very generally abandoned, as it often in,
jures the turtle to such an extent as to de.
crease its market value.
In the breeding season the female turtle
crawls upon the beach, selects a warm,
sandy spot, digs a hole with her flippers,
and deposits her eggs to be Matched by the
warmth of the sun. Sometimes before
reaching the water she is caught, turned
over on her back, thus rendering her com.
pletely helpless, and dispatched at leisure.
1t is no unusual thing for turtle to lay as
many as lbs eggs, although from 60 to 1O(
eggs Is a more usual "lay."
The method usually adopted for catching
turtles is by the "gill net" The size Of
mesh employed is about II inches. The
nets are from so to 100 fatboms long, and
extend from the surface OF the water to the
bottom. A turtle while swimming around
in the water comes in contact with net
and thrusts its head through one of the
meshes Not noticing the obstruction, il
attempts to continue its course, and in q
short time one hipper and then the other
are entangled, and the reptile is unable to
extricate itself. II the fisherman is near his
laheS he knows by the movement of the
oorks ON the surface that the turtle is
caught, and he hastens to row up and Sc
cure IL.
Turtles are kept alive in pen or "crawl, n
and fed on fish and turtle grass until
ready for shipment by steamer to New
York. The "crawl" Is an inclosure about
30 feet long by 25 feet wide, surrounded by
piles driven closely together and covered
above with boards. 1t is usually con.
structed near the shore in water 5 or feet
deep A crane or derrick is used for hoist
ing the turtles.-Cor. New York Times.
90 judged by Her Aearrn.
"A certain wise old lady said TO the writer
IFeoantlV. HI aluva 90 iudne a vvonaan NV tha