Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-30
TURTLES FOR FOOD.
HOW THEY ARE OBTAINED FOR
THE MARKET rs.
Five Species of the Toothsome AMI
NAL - Methods OF Catching
1t i'm Southern Waters
Shipping Turtles.
are five species Of turtle

uISuiy FiiNON AV' WV SfN
its meat.
This is OF straight grain and tender,
light in color, and of a peculiarly deli
clous flavor. In Key West markets 1t
brings a higher price than any other
turtle meat. The green turtle derives
its name from its color. It's head IS re-
markably small, and, unlike any other
turtle. its jaws are of size and shape
that permit the upper one to fit into the
lower. The she'll OF the green turtle is
about the thickness Of stiff paper and is
of no value. The general weight is from
400 to 500 pounds. Sometimes on the
fishing grounds off Cedar Keys monsters
of 1000 pounds weight are caught. The
largest ever landed at Cedar Keys
weighed 1900 pounds.
The green turtle inhabits grassy bot
toms, and subsists entirely on turtle
grass. 1t 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 other ornaments so dear
to the feminine heirt. The shell,
which brings from 81 to Sc per pound,
according to its quality and demand for
for it, completely covers the turtles
back, aud is invariably arranged in
thirteen rows. This remarkable uni.
formity in the number of rows, regard
less of the turtles age, is observed in all
varieties of the reptile.
The hawk's-bilI docs not attain the
size OF other species, rarely exceeding 25O
pounds in weight. Its meat IS palatable
and wholesome, but Of 4 darker color
than that Of tie other varieties. It is
usually found on rocky bottoms and sub
sists on sponge and grass. The hawks
bill remains 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
The loggerhead ranks next to the
hawk's-bil in point OF value. 1t attaius
about the same size, although specimens
weighing 300 pounds have been caught.
It's meat is about the same quality, but
its shell drops in value to twelve or fif-
teen cents a pound. The she'll is used
for making cheap combs and buttons.
This species of turtle inhabits rocky bot
toms and subsists on sponge, grass and
conch shells. It's jaws and teeth are Of
such remarkable strength that it is en-
abled to and does indulge in the delight
full delicacy of the hardest aud strongest
conch shells. The loggerhead is fire.
ouently seen on the surface of the water,
when it comes up to blow, which it does
every half hour, holding in its jaws a
conch weighing five or six pounds.
Another 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 prizo1 for food
as the other varieties already mentioned.
The trunk back turtle is the largest Of
all, frequently reaching weight of 1900
pounds.
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 follow
ing 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 seizing the anterior edge
of the carapace with one hand aud the
posterior edge with the other, he turns
the head Of the turtle upward, when the
reptile Immediately rises to the surface,
bringing the fisherman with it. 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
suitable place is reached he hoists the
turtle into the boat.
Another method is to strike the turtle
with a spear or "gauge,' y having a long
line attached, but this method has been
very generally abandoned, as it often in
jures the turtle to such an extent as to
decrease its market value.
In the breeding season the female tur.
tie crawls upon the beach, selects
warm sand spot, digs a hole with her
fppers and deposits her eggs to be
hatched with the warmth Of the sun.
Sometimes before reaching the water
she is caught, turned over on her back,
thus rendering her completely helpless,
aud dispatched at leisure. 1t is no un-
usual. thing for turtle to lay as many
as 125 eggs, although from sixty to 100
eggs is a more usual clay
The method usually adopted for
catching turtles is by the "gilI net.
The size of mesh employed is about
eleven inches. The nets are from fifty
to 100 fathoms long, and extend from
the surface Of the water to the bottom.
A turtle while swimming around in the