The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-01


the demand for terrapin in all the large
cities of the Atlantic coast that the crea-
ture has become luxury even in the land
OF his birth, the prolific region of the
Chesapeake; hence the terrapin farm.
Senator Dennis of Maryland was accus-
toned TO smile when strangers spoke or
wrote Of his terrapin farm. The truth is
that the senator simply improved some
what upon the time honored Maryland
custom of keeping few terrapin in the
cellar for future use He had "a house
where his terrapin were fed but he did
not make a business of terrapin farming
Others have since gone into that business,
and in course of time perhaps the ravages
made by the hunters among wild terrapin
will be repaired by the terrapin farmers.
One of the largest terrapin farms is that
of Charles Lewis, on Hog island, a spot Of
few acres in the Potomac not far from
the Chesapeake and opposite the mouth Of
CCan river, a tide water tributary of the
Potomac. Mr. Lewis is a Virginian from
the eastern shore, an energetic man, who
laid up considerable money in running
steamboats, on the Chesapeake and in New
York harbor- He went into terrapin
farming about five years ago. After fenc-
ing in several acres, partly on the island
and partly in the water surrounding IL, he
began buying terrapin for stocking the
farm. He has been buying ever since I'M
til some persons believe he has many
thousands in stock The number is prc5-
ably Oyerastimated, bat Mr.. Lewis has
undoubtedly put great deal Of money
in his farm, although small terrapin,
from the size Of a thumb nail upward, may
4. Il
times n good deal lower. The terrapin is
supposed 10 be about five years in reaching
the marketable condition. \ count" as
the term is, must measure inches on the
bottom shell, according TO the Baltimore
standard, before it is regarded a. fit 10 set
before an epicure. Counts have reached
$40 dozen in recent seasons.
Some epicurcs profess to believe that the
artificially cultivated terrapin lacks GER
tain flavor Of his Wild brother. and this is
sscribed to the absence Of some elements Of
food obtainahle by the wild terrapin. Mr.
Lewis believes he has made sure of these
elements by including in the area of his
farm a quantity of sea grass such as is
found where terrapin inhabit He has,
as in the case Of other terrapip FARMS in
Guided an area Of sandy beach where tho
terrapin may lay their eggs. II is the ma
ture of the terrapin 10 burrow in the mud
at the approach of cold weather and to
come out in May. The dormant terrapin
is fat, and the eggs are formed within tho
female 1t i during the dormant season !
that the creatures are caught and eaten. I
When warm weather comes, Farmer +
Lewis dormant terrapin wake up, and /
the females come ashore to lay their eggs
The terrapin digs a perfectly round hole
in the sand and there deposits her eggs /
When the eggs have been laid, she scrapes .
sand over them and puts il down hard by .
rising on her toes and letting her body
drop with all its weight upon the spot.
The female does not Jay all her eggs in .
one day, but a few at a time until she
has all of them hidden away and neatly
patted down. Snugly tucked away, there
the eggs are subjected TO the heat Of the
sun until the young terrapin are Matched,
and a. soon As the tiny creatures have the
needed strength they come ont and take
70 the water. In some II the Chesapeake
ands where rerrapin breed there are many
oxes, and the latter destroy many eggs by
breaking into the nests. Farmer Lewis
crrapin nests are subject to no such dan
,crs, 20 that the percentage Of loss Is
mall
since the young terrapin take 70 the
water when they are tiny. the farm fence
iaS 10 be very close II J. also strong -
prevent iDCuT~ior> from without. A. the
errapin. Il left - Themselves, lie dormant
n the very season when they are most ia
emand. i j. n.ae-~ary before the cold
FEATHER comes On 70 separate from the
lAin part ~ the farm a great many
commits and = keep them against mud
!. 49, x pont where they can have Do
nance I1 bury themselves and may easily
e caught az any time Ths-e terrspin
- I'd GA Gratis, clans and such Isl a.
lit 5heir fancy. The earlier - called Ter
lpir f1-u- consisted a. such pond only
nd did NOT include a breeding place Cap
va teImliu tEss kept cu top. 80 20 speas.
ecoIuc aIuu-iuE.v tame and respond wit3
iscrity On the call n the nsau that come.
, feed them 4 rap OF TIE SIDE q toe p
eE trinz- them from every diys-fion. and
be- c0sargres fairly fail over themselves IL
lvir eagerEess % gct a. the food
Nhfu the Lewis t.rrHpiu farm shall
ave reached fan development . j. likely
B tE1r- largely il re tcTyoV.1 markets
Baltimore and Washington
y NRIr-s >-rc-usE