Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-09

at tCrisReid--How the Eggs Are Hatcheds
Baltimore Sun.
CRIsFIELD. MD, Aug. 5.-At ters
rapin supper given in Crisfield recently
to a party OF gentlemen from Baltimore
attention was called to the fact that
diamoud-back terrapins are becoming
extinct, and unless something is done TO
propagate them they will pass away.
! Inasmuch as this species of terrapin is
only found in the Chesapeake aud its
tributaries, aud the dealers have men
securing the bay from its head to the
canes, il is definitely known how many
| of them arc to be found. There is not q
| third as many terrapins to be had this
year US last year. Men who have
caught as high as 1000 did net have 100
this year. TO go back still further it
will be seen that the decrease has been
rapid. Fifteen years ago a terrapin
hunter could catch 80 or 10 day; now
lie is satisfied if he secures three or
four. Then ono could buy choice ter
rapins for 50tccnts piece; now terra
pins from TO inches in length bring
| from $75 to 500 per dozen; those from
6 10 7 inches will bring $40 per dozen.
Last winter the weather was so mild
and the hunters pursued their work
with such vigor that few terrapins are
left.
Terrapins are caught in various ways.
The hunter is provided with slender
stick tipped with metal, like hthe
ramrod of "a gun, and q bag in which to
carry the game. The terrapin is not @
social animal. In October he selects q
suitable place in the marsh, and by
working his hind feet gradually settles
himself to the depth of 10 or IL inches
below the surface. The head goes down
last. There he sits sleeping until the
hunter spies the last track, finds the
hiding animal with his stick and breaks
his peaceful slumber. They are some-
times caught with hook and line; some-
times with crab-nets. They have even
been tished from the bottom with oyster
tongs, but the method which has de-
stroyed them in great numbers is the
trap.
Ii a terrapin is in the middle of the
Chesapeake bay and it begins to rain, it
will come ashore to get fresh water and
, deposit its eggs. The hunters, knowing
this, sink barrels in the sand near the
water, at intervals of IA feet, so that the
rim of the barrel is on level with the
sand. These traps often extend to great
always sloping, and at the upper rims OF
these barrels boards are placed on their
edges and the ends connected SO as to
, form d continuous line of fence. The
terrapins come out of the water aud
+, endeavor to gain the highest part of the
beach, but, striking the fence, they are
! unable to surmount it and run along by
[ its side, seeking for an opening, and
: straiyhtWay fall into the pit,
t Another way of catching terrapins is
Z by means Of net, similar to alewife-
fishing. The head of the terrapin is
: seen protruding from the water, the net
:. Is placed around him, pocket is formed
5 by drawing the bottom together and the
= terrapin is captured.
!. The laws against taking terrapins out
2 of season arc very strict, for they are
d often destroyed before they can lay
y their eggs. When they are caught in
= traps they are ON the beach for that
d purpose. The State fishery force en-
deavors to sec that the law is enforced.
e Some time ago terrapin-huoter was
y using the net, when he saw the police
y boat sailing toward him. He hastily
d sank his net to the bottom, put the ter
/, rapins in a bag, threw them on shore
Ie and then went to meet the police boat
w Hen uC lOuHNCu iAOHSolSlS AAN
a meekly asked for bucket of drinking
,r water. The captain asked him if lie
d was not u terrapin-hunter. He put on
the appearance of being deeply offended
es ut the imputation and asked the captain
le to come on board and investigate fol
Is himself. He was given what he asked
asked for and went away rejoicing.
AT the present time there are about
$4,000 terrapins in O single pound al
Nv Cristield, and they probably comprised
threc.fourths of all these animals left
rt on earth. Terrapin- ruising has .beer
n. tried in several places without success
of High tides and heavy winds have il
a. most instances destroyed the pounds AMI
n. allowed the terrapins to escape. Th,
n pound in Crisiield incloses one acre. Il
i. is supplied with running water through
fb the ebb and flow of the tide, and is sur
Il. rounded by wall IL feet high, which
extends feet into the ground. Her
i'll the habits of the terrapin can be sue
ccssfuily studied. The terrapin neve
chews food, but bolts it whole. He viii
swallow Il crabs claw with great relish
nal leaving the work of digestion to tn
a strong acids of the stomach and intes
hv tines. Pcriwinkles, fiddlers and shrim
pS. are also choice articles of food wit
an them, |. takes 3G barrels Of crabs pc
nd week to feed ;ho number of terrapins il
M. the Orisfeld pound. AS they are accus
ers toned when free to live on small crab
;as they take dead crab in the same mar
his ner as : live one. When the food
de carefully located the head darts out lik
me- a flash, sei2cs the food aud w!thdraws.
mi Tcrrapius bury in Octo5sr, to CON
aii out again in April, when :hey matt
is The feuIages lay their eggs in June an
in July. The eggs are buried IA the san
He aud left 70 the sun To hatch. These egs
me arc so,t and white, s5ou; the size {
marbles. 1t takes about four weeks X
:hc.u 10 hatch. The ya0pg oEes, aft
being hatahsd. da nai stIsEge srons Il
,oII sand at CAGE, 40 tGeiv SHELLS are soft AZ
~ t.hay wcu,d a0up te sxyosaG TO 81
ia. !rnj,s uf the fa.i, As ;hey are hatctS
81, ou, sbont ,hs SLING The old orss eG:y,
J.s is supposed gi.It .sey lie Garnh2t un:
III tie scl!a~,nE spring, wesn thes con
- D;. api an6 "a srGre sWun:sr osEcl
H.. them. ttlnc. lie asgS cra Eur:c'i tronl
ta9 70 3 ircLeS il ;Ae iSne, :he cia'.rc
hr stages u. hstsn,;g aSTt EeTes Sesa o
serysG Nj. Htss;n, gu expert, aays
no eggs are Giis:c:iis6, ,Ley tSi! 20 hat'
Mt a,i, Hhsr Iszt seen ihe teTeS pinS +
ticc an incn in lcngth, aai r.s;ure Ia ate
this SIX ycars. .-.. ...
YER