The morning call., 1892-01-17
TURTLE-CATCHING.
The Way in Which 1t Is Done Of Ginger
bread Key, Bahamas.

The Way in Which 1t Is Done OF Ginger
bread Key, Bahamas.
After pleasant trip we arrive off Ginger
bread Key, said TO be one OF the best turf
ling grounds around Bahamas. Being a
good clear day, all is prOpitious for a fine
days sport Sail is reduced and all boats
called away, and vessel left in charge of the
cook. Five boats are sent off, two men in
each boat one TO scull and the other in the
bow. Captain aud crew WORK alike. As a
special favor | am allowed to 60 In the boat
with the captain.
We are now busy scanning the surface,
and soon sight large turtle asleep on
the water. Away we speed, as fast as pos
sible. yet with as little noise as possi BILE.
The captain is in the bow, standing
erect, with spear 10 hand and line all clear
for running. We are near the monster, the
strong right arm IS drawn back, the spear
steadied by tile left hand, the sculling
ceases, out flies the spear and brushes
through the shell Of the turtle, the staff Is
pulled out and the turtle, now fully awake,
sinks rapidly to the bottom, but is fast by
the line and plug. After a short while he
allows himself to be pulled to the surface
Being too large To handle IN the small boat
we signal the schooner, which comes along
aide. hooks on the turtle, and we have him
on deck and on his back in short order
Our first catch turns out TO be a large
loggerhead.
Sometimes it Is impossible to get near the
turtle, and the spear is thrown as far as
fifty feet with remarkable accuracy.
lime Is precious; we are off again. Not
seeing any turtle on the surface, the captain
Is on his knees in the bottom Of the boat
leaning over the side eagerly scanning the
bottom through the water glass. After
awhile his hand Is up directing the sculler
to turn this way or that way. He sees a
turtle. The bully Is all ready, line all
| clear. and as the boat comes over the turtle
| it Is dropped over him on the bottom. As
soon as lie finds himself under the net he
attempts 10 free himself, and in SO doing
becomes hODeessly entangled In the meshes.
| He is hauled up and taken into the boat
being a small hawk-bil.
After long search and tiresome look
| through the water-glass a turtle is seen on
the bottom, partially hidden under a rock
| Inc Duuy, or grapnel, is useless, 80 with
out hesitation the man In the bow makes
| line fast to his right wrist and down he
| dives, the man 10 the boat keeping the line
| In his hand. The diver catches hold of the
| collar-bone Of the turtle with the right
| hand and with the left catches hold of the
| tall-end OF the shell, pulls him out from
under the rock, points his head up. the
! turtle swms to the surface, the man I'm
| the boat pulling In the line at the same
| time. The diver, as he nears the surface.
| depTesses the turtles head SO lie, the diver,
| can have first breath, or blow first, as he
| terms 1t As soon as possible the man in
| the boat catches hold Of the forefin and
! bauls the turtle into the boat. Had the
diver allowed the turtle to blow first he
| would have lost all control Of him and los (
him. This is very dangerous proceeding.
as sharks swarm in these waters. and a
little blood makes them very savage. II
may seem somewhat incredible for a man 10
| DO so much under water, but these people
are trained from childho0d-Cor PhiIadel-
/ phia Press.