The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-11-28

OF Day.
The diamond-backed terrapin Is an
aristocratic denizen of Chesapeake bay,
and worth almost its weight In gold 10
the epicure Of the fashionable cafe.
The dinmond-backed tcrrapin is only
another name for a small species of
turtle, and time was when the colored
people of Maryland ate them after
roasting them in their shells. and never
dreamed of their value as food for a
royal menu. Now. a terrapin farm Is a
mine of wealth to its possessor.
A true story is told of a poor negro
fisherman who CHANGED upon nest Of
diamond backs near Tangier island In
1893. In four hours he took out 81 200
worth. and stopped only when too ex-
hausted TO work
Terrapins "in pound" present an in
teresting, but by no means an appetite
ing appearance. The pound is n place
where the fishermen keep the turtles
until they are shipped to some city to
the markets. The farms where they
are cultivated are flooded with sea wa
ter, SO that the little object preserves
Tvs dtAAtAttrNot1ii lldilNb.
There are certain rules understood
by those who purchase terrapin. They
are careful TO observe that the extreme
tip or muzzle is not injured. that the
bottom of the feet is not worn of, that
the head is prettily shaped small, thin
and pointed, and the eyes brilliant. The
feet should be small and slender.
Cooking terrapin properly is such an
art that only chief or n Marylander
should be permitted to give instruc-
tons. To begin with, the first rule is
a challenge TO the humane society:
"Plunge the terrapin alive into boiling
water" Then boil until the skin and
toenails come off," When the rudi-
mentaries and vitals are disposed of,
the rich. sweet meat, which is better
than chicken or canvasback duck, or
frogs legs, is stewed and prepared
with an nfiinitive sauce, and dish of
Madeira" or "a little good sherry" and
in one recipe pint of pale brandy, TO
which a match shall be set when IL is
turned over the terrapin," are added TO
make the delicacy complete.
The only people who can cook the
terrapin as il demands are the Mary
land cooks, who learned from the col
ored people, and their secret'of success
is to handle IL as little as possible md TO
serve it from the dish in which IL was
cooked, thus preserving its native juices
and aromas. The dash of wine is an in
novation of art.
On the terrapin farms of the Chesa-
peake n peculiar sport is INDUCED in by
the men, called "terrapin racing" The
turtles are let loose in room, where
at one end hot fire is blazing, protect
ed by guard. They all begin scram-
BILE for the light and warmth, the men
betting on particular ones. They have
no continuity of purpose, and are like
~ 10 branch off in n dozen devious
routes, but the terrapin that first puts
its nose against the fire wins the race.
Terrapin are rated according 20 their
value with q family pedigree tag, which
simply gives the name of the state
whence they come. First on the list for
its terrapin is Chesapeake bay. Next
comes Long Island. Then Virginia.
Charleston and Savannah, Florida, Mo-
bile and the gulf follow. Mississippi
ard North Carolina and other points
south furnish excellent terrapin.
Now for prices. Eighty dollars a
dozen Is not considered high for choice
terrapin at certain seasons and on spe-
cial occasions. A modest housekeeper
saw one crawling over some Holsters in
n fish market, and out OF curiosity in
quired the price.
"What time is it2" asked the market
man, looking at his watch. you may
have il for three dollars, but IL it was
six o'clock tonight and only had that
one. should have TO charge you more.
expect some in at any moment
Detroit Free Press.