Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-12-10
TONS OF TURTLES.
AN ARTICLE OF FOOD THAT EPl-
CURES APPRECIATE.


Where New f0rk's supply vi i"i ''o'
Comes From and How the Anlmais
Ara Tronsnorted-Catc Tur-
a.
'ies'
Many tons of turtles are consumer IN
New York every year in the shape Oh
soups and steaks. The smaller ones
called the "babies, are founa 10 some OK
tent on the Jersey and Long lslana coasts
and as far east as MASSACHUSETTS, out
large quantity OF the market suPpiies
comes from Florida and the lnuies' on
the Florida coast the turtles eggs are
also highly esteemed as oehcacy oy tne
bears in the neighoornoou' ieinaie
turtle Will lay paiifui Oh eggs at tiii'e'
The small turtles also become the prey
OF hshes OF all KINDS Inc large turtles
90 not care Tor their young particularly
leaving them to SHIFT Tor themselves.
Turtles thrive unaer connnement-
ihey are transported 10 new 1ork WIN
their feet tleu: IL thelr feet were free'
1hey wouia XIII themselves on the way.
some years ago the question was aglta-
ted as TO whether this method OF trans
portation was not cruel, but it was shown
10 the satisfaction OF the society Tor the
ireVentlon OF Cruelty 10 ANIMALS that
II was the most humane way to prevent
them from tearing themselves to pieces.
Ihe turtles before starting on their
Journey, are laid on their backs with saw
DUST pillows to prevent their heads from
hanging down and to Keep them in as
comfortable position as possible. The
small turtles do not need the pillows. In
WINTER, turtles are Kept IN warm rooms
untii they are wanted Tor the market.
Most of the turtles that reach New
York go to Fulton Market, and their
prices range from to ~ cents pound,
according to their size and the demand
Tor them. Over one hundred pounds,
the price decreases in proportion to the
turtle size. Some OF the turtles sent to
New York weigh 800 or 400 pounds, and
these invariably go to the hotels and
soupmakers to be canned. A turtle on
the way IRON Florida Keys to New York
Will lose about three pounds in weight.
The hawkbill and loggerhead turtles
are often used in the place OF the green
turtle, but they do not possess the same
quiet disposition. They are inclined TO
De ugly and will bite viciously. A green
turtle, on the contrary, will not bite un-
less one puts his finger in its mouth, and
then 1t will probably take the finger off.
In warm weather the turtles feed on
marine growths, and gain from three to
SIX pounds week. Some years ago the
experiment was tried of transporting
them to New York in water tanks, but on
their arrival here they were so bruised
and sore from threshing around the ship
that they were unit for consumption.
A great many turtles are caught by
men on board the small turtle schooners
that are engaged IN the coral and sponge
industry IN the west Indies. They are
captured in various ways. One way is
TO lie IN wait ON the shore on moonlight
evening, and as the turtle crawls up out
OF the water to lay its eggs, it is rushed
upon and overturned before it can get
away. Once upon its back, the turtle is
perfectly helpless.
In trying to escape and reach the
water when pursued, the turtle will throw
vast quantities of sand with its hind flip
pers in the faces OF its pursuers, almost
binding them.
Another way to capture turtle is to
stretch large net with large meshes
across some inlet, having man on watch
with his hand ON the guy rope all the
time. Whenever turtle becomes en-
tangled in the net he can feel it strug-
Cling. A boat is then put out Immediately,
and the ensnared turtle is taken on
board.
Turtles are also captured, but not fire.
quently, by men who dive for them from
the bow OF boat. A man is stationed
on the lookout, and when he sees q
turtle asleep, either on the surface or a
few feet below, he dives and grasps it by
the forefiippers, presses it on his back
with his knees and elevates its head,
causing it in its struggles to escape to
rise to the surface. Holding the turtle
IN this position 1T is unable to dive, and
swims rapidly on the surface until it is
tired out.
Still another way to catch turtles is to
spear them This is done with very
light harpoon-ike instrument, which just
penetrates the shell enough to hold the
turtle, put not to mlure 1t.
lhe small turtle schooners take then
cargoes 10 the nearest ports from which