The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-04-02
PEGGING TURTLES
A SPORT THAT Is BOTH Excl
TING AND PROFITABLE.

WINTER amusement OF Florida of
which very few sportsmen know any
thing Is that OF ''peggingn turtles as
they swim close to the surface or rest in
their sets or "harborsn in shallow
water. A light thrust will put the ''pec',
into turtle weighing ton, especially IL
1t is inserted in the chimes of the cara
pace, that being the particular spot for
which all expert ''peggers" aim when
they have the opportunity.
The small weapons known as "persn
are probably the best implements known
for capturing and holding turtles, as they
rarely injure the she'll and can be
handled readily. Pegs are divided into
two kinds, those which have a socket
into which pole fits, and are known as
socket pegs, and those which fit into the
pole and are known as flying pegs. Both
are attached to handles by lines varying
from go to 100 feet in length, TO prevent
their being lost when turtle is struck.
The penetration part of peg is about
two and a half inches long, four square,
and tapers gradually to sharp point.
1t is sometimes covered with leather at
the upper end to prevent it from entering
the shell too deeply, for if it went in too
far 1t would injure the turtle so much as
to render their flesh unmarketable, or
else make so large a hole that it could
not hold captive. as its retentive power
Is mainly due to the suction OF the orifice.
Another result OF its penetrating too
deeply would be, in all probability. the |
destruction of the chelonia, for even a |
Slight wound often causes it to bleed to I
death Expert peggers are, thers fore,
much sought by the captains Of vessels
engaged in turtling, as the success of
cruise depends largely on their ex-
ertions and dexterity.
The best time for pegging turtles is
during the months of February, March
and April, when they are pairing or
''cooting," as it is called in Florida, or
May or June, when the females are lay
ing, but the sport may be enjoyed at any
period in South Florida, as the chelonia
are in motion in its warm waters at all
seasons of the year. The species usually
pegged is the green turtle, whose flesh is
worth from 20 cents to So pound in
New York, and from five to eight cents
In Florida, but those who wish to enjoy
the sport for itself can harpoon the
ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill, and even
the gigantic trunkback, provided the
peg is buried in the chimes of its cara
pace or directly behind the head, where ,
the skin is tough and the flesh hard.
A general idea of the sport of pegcing
may be obtained from my own experi- /.
ence in cruise lasting forty-eight hours. /,
was the guest of ''turtling" captain,
and as the chelonias were rather plenti- 4,
full he concluded to let me use a peg. )
'Just to get my hand in, y as he said. !
We had two boats and two men in each /
boat, one man doing the sculling and :
the other the pegging. was super :
numerary in the captains dinkey, and
while he stood in the bow, ready to pick
up anything that came his way, | took i
. position amidship to try and secure !
he missed I
The sea was as smooth as the tradi- !
honal mill pond, and SO clear that we !;
could see the beautiful marine fora, six 4
.athoms down, as clearly as if it were in !,
Dur hands. The morning was also one !.
II those which cannot be seen outside :,
he tropics, the sky being clear and the \
Iir warm without being oppressive. At :,
er proceeding about half mile from =,
he sloop, tho captain called my atten- ~
ion to ahuge object lying on the water r.
bout 300 yards ahead. He asked me If a
knew what it was, and ] replied that :,
looked like vessel bottom up. - !.
"That's a leatherback turtle,n he OBJ =,
erved in whisper. ''See me peg him. y 3;
Reckoning to the sculler to move eau ~ :,
lously, he stood erect on the forward 4.
hwart with his miniature harpoon poised ~
Dr. prompt throw at the right moment. "
When we were within thirty feet of the u
igantic creature it awoke with a loud !.
lort and attempted to sink to the bot -.
I'm, but it had scarcely moved ere the e.
lptain buried the peg in the forward II II
hines of the carapace.
"Sit down" he shouted to me Hor -;
ou'H be knocked overheard by this fell as'
WIS sudden movements" -; ;u
Then turning to the sculler, he ordered ~ ~
IN to keep in the wake of the turtle and ~ ~
It let it upset US by quick change of W.
rection.
'T'll look out for that, - the sculler re-
led, Just as he was thrown on the stern
Gets by the sudden forward movement
the boat. Recovering himself prompt i
/, be gave the craft jerk that made it TO
most turn on pivot, and away it went ms
rectly behind our marine tug at a pace ma
at was a surprise to me, for never ran
pected to see turtle travel so rapidly. TIT
THAT fellow weighs a ton If he and
,ighs pound" the captain observed to
me, "but we'll fetch him. The peg WEI
II hold long enough to tire him out tiers
then you'll see what he looks like at abo
'se quarters" an
His words proved true for after pulling Fra
for mile or more our marine steed the
ckened its pace so much that we were but
lie to scull alongside it by hauling in the
} line as we advaRced. It proved to M
genuine monster, being a5out twelve iarl
{ long, eight feet wide, five feet thick, he
I weighing nearly, if not all, Of 9. GOO orol
lnds. The captain said it was the nou
gest he had seen in many day. He lnsli
ced broken oar over its mouth, and on 1
creature seized it with the ferocity to P
q bull dog and held il so tightly that KEEP
had to shoot the creature in order to ST
ure the line and oar. Having released
sc. we started away in hurry, for
moment the blood Of the turtle tinged
water a shoal Of leopard and nurse
rks appeared as if BY magic snd began Al
ing the animal to pieces with fury Unit
thy Of their character. As We re- able