Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-07
New York Cotton.
TERRAPIN AND CANVAS BACK
The Former is a Costly Luxury, but is in
Demand
There Are Terrapin Farms Where
They Are Cultivated for Market
Something About Birds.

The advent of the holiday season sug-
gests to the epicure dinners commensurate
with the occasion, and the toothsome can
vas back and succulent terrapin are put
very much in evidence.
But terrapin this year Is a high-priced
luxury, and dish Of this delicacy costs
almost as much as a flrst-class dinner.
For the past few years terrapin have been
getting scarce, and the natural supply this
season Is nowhere equal to the demand.
Since It first became fashionable to eat
terrapin. the hunters have pursued the
poor little fellows ruthlessy, capturing
the understood ones before they were large
enough to eat. Not having a fair chance
to mature the species was fast becoming
extinct, wher shrewd southerner con-
ceived the idea Of operating a terrapin
farm. He bought all he could from the
markets end stocked his farm, which
Is in one of the numerous small tributar-
les to Chesapeake bay, and quietly went
to work.
Two varieties of terrapin are brought to
our markets, very much alike in appear
ance, but vastly different in flavor. The
Chesapeake bay and Potomac river va
riety so far outclasses those caught along
the coast of the Carolinas that they cas-
lily bring twice as much.
MIR. MoreIand's Views.
Perhaps the man who knows more about
terrapin and game of all kinds in Washing
ton is Walter Moreland. 1t has been a
lifetime study with him. and being a true
sportsman. takes a keen interest in every
thing in that line. A reporter of The Star
hunted him up the other day to learn
something of the terrapin. Mr.. Moreland
said:
II know Of no game that is as much
sought after as the diamond back terra
pin. He easily rivals the canvas back
duck and his popularity Is well earned. The
terrapin has been delicacy ever since
l can remember. but it has only been with
in the past few years that he has become
prominent Society took him up and de-
clared that no well regulated dinner or
banquet was complete without his pres
ence. That settled 1T. The terrapin was
doomed, for when society starts q fad
It's bound to be go. Year after year the
banquets and big dinners have increased
In number. Year after year the demand
for terrapin has increased until now the
supply far from equals the demand.
rapin seven inches long. True. diamond
back terrapin can be purchased for S55
per dozen. and each ono will be in the
neighborhood Of seven inches long But
they are from the Carolinas and an cpl
cure will not have them at any price. II
our Chesapeake bay and Potomac river
terrapin can be obtained. Why, there is
as much difference between them as there
Is UclWeeu IIldlldTu anu d CdHNdS DdCh
The tefrapin from our waters are sweeter
and have a flavor that cannot be initiated.
Few people. however. know a terrapln
when they eat 1t, and I venture to say
furnished would not be recognized as be-
longing to the family of terrapin by the
very best experts on comparative anatomy.
Whenever you see terrapin on bill Of
fare of a cheap hotel or at a low-priced
banquet just content yourself with the be-
lief that you are eating sliders. An
pert could tell 1t in a minute by the large
bones.
A Terrapin Farm.
"As have already said. the supply is
inadequate, and but for the enterprise OF
q few hunters, I am afraid. like the
buffalo, the species would soon become ex-
tinct. At farm in Coan river several
acres are planted In terrapin. The beach
has been nicely graded, and here the little
fellows have established growing col
ony. The beach Is protected on all sides
by wire netting to prevent the escape of
the terrapin, and during the breeding sea-
son when the nests are dug in the sand
and the eggs laid, a strict watch is kept
to prevent crows from despoilng them.
1t takes about three years for a terrapin
to mature. When that age they are at
their best. l expect to see terrapin away
down in price before many years. These
farms will do mere to protect the species
than all the laws that ever could be en-
acted"
While it is true that terrapin are higher
in price this year than ever before, can
vas back ducks are much lower, and
strange to say the supply this season has
been sufficient and the birds are in excel
lent condition. This time last year cam
vas back ducks readily brought IS per
pair while this year they are quoted at
81 and even lower for inferior birds.
Speaking of birds, new variety has been
put on the market, and promises to be-
come quite a favorite with epicures. 1t
is the Tinamou, a native of South Ameri-
ca. from where they are exported. The
bird is described as being a little larger
than quail. but not as large as a pleas
ant 1t Is deep olive color, slightly and
narrowly banded with black, with a red
crown 1t is decidedly gamey in flavor. and
sells for Sc per dozen. The bird promises
to become popular.