Evening star., 1893-12-16

From the Baltimore American.
Terrapin, the now greatest delicacy known
to the epicure. are a little lower in price this
year than they were last, although their
comparative scarcity makes them one of
the most precious luxuries. "Counts"-that
is, terrapins that measure six inches or over
which brought $55 per dozen last year. are
now selling for $50. The largest specimens
are highly priced for their flesh and have
brought even this year as high as $72 per
dozen. The more common varieties. which
have not changed materially in price, sell
for SIS to $50. Terrapin farming, as 1t is
technicallysdubbed by the trade. has proved
itself a lucrative business. OF late years
many have entered into it and have earned
a good living by plying their strange trade.
One of the most noted of these farms is situ-
ated on Hog Island. Va, which is located at
the mouth Of the Coan river. where all the
advantages Of water and surroundings nee
essary for the rearing of the animals are at
hand. The farm covers about two and one
half acres of land and water and is sur
rounded by a board fence, which effectually
prevents the terrapin from escaping. The
interior is divided into lots. Marshy ground
Is afforded the animals for burrowing In the
mud when the cold weather sets in. The
summer months seem to be the favorte
time for the terrapin to lay its eggs. This
operation is performed In peculiar way,
which admirably demonstrates the sagacity
Of the animal. The female first digs O hole
in the sand with her claws and hollows it
out cleverly in the form of an inverted cone
In this she deposits her eggs one layer at a
time, and, having filled the cavity, she COW
ers 1t over carefully, and, with her hard
breast shell, packs the sand down over the
nest. She usually lays about twelve eggs,
this being fair average. The heat Of the
sun matches the eggs and after they have
been in the ground about two months and
half the little fellows dig themselves out Of
the sand and take to the water, where they
proceed to obtain nourishment as best they
can. When the cold weather comes on the
terrapin hunts his winter quarters, which
are generally located at the bottom of the
pond. The older ones sleep all the winter at
the bottom and the younger ones live around
the edges Of the bank. AS a natural conse-
Quence, the terrapin only requires care DUR
ing the warm weather. Then they must be
fed regularly with fish, crabs and other food
of which they are fond. Such farms are
ever the animals are caught they are placed
within the inclosure, where they find the
quarters all prepared for their reception
A few terrapins are caught by tongers in
the bay. They are generally large in size
and command high prices In New York
Philadelphia and Boston the demand for this
luxury has become so strong in late years
that they are brought from Georgia and the
Carolinas. These terrapin. however do not
have the flavor of the true diamond back
and. therefore, are sold at a much lower
price. Thirty years ago terrapin as an arti.
Gle Of food among the elite was undreamed
of by the majority of the people. Now they
are caught in such quantities as to endaneer
the supply and make 1t possible that in
few years the terrapin will be no more.