Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-12
HUNTING FOR TERRAPIN.
How the Toothsome and Expensive "Diamon d
Backs, Which Live in the Mud,
Are Caught,
New York World.

New York World.
Stories of the Revolutionary days
abound in "reminiscences of outbreaks
among negro slaves because they resent
ed being given nothing but terrapin for
food. The ancient statute books of Mary
land contain an act to prevent masters
from feeding more than a specified guam
tity of this common and nauseous food
during each month. The farmers lived
on them to a great extent, but caught
only what they could use in their own
households. There was no demand for
them in market.
|. All through the balmy summer days the
willy terrapin is industriously engaged in
fattening himself-not for market-that
is, not Intentionally for market, but be-
cause he is preparing for a long sleep.
Like the bears, the terrapin stow them
selves snugly away at the first approach
of frosty weather and curl up for win
ters Snooze. All along the eastern shores
of the Chesapeake bay stretch great
marshes. In these the terrapin bed them
selves in cold weather. They choose spots
almost bare at low water and burrow I'M
der the soft creek mud until only the
outlines of their forms or mere heaps of
muck remain in sight.
If left undisturbed they will lie thus
until the April days begin to warm the
tideways. The high tides roll over them
and the cold winds rush around them
at ebb tide. but they are never aroused.
Most terrapin hunters prefer to take
their game in the fall because of the fat
condition, but the work is pleasanter
and easier in the spring months. Then.
too, many which are too deeply imbedded
in the mud to be discovered in October
begin to crawl slowly surfaceward in
March. A skillful fisherman will occa-
sionally collect 100 in the space of a
half acre.
A broad square-ended scow or flat
boat is the popular caft used in the
Chesapeake by the experts. She must be
of very shoal draught so as to float up
the little inlets at low water. A very low
tide and clear water are necessary to a
successful hunt, for even the keenest
eyes cannot detect the dusk-backed rep
tiles against the brown mud if a recent
rain has "riled" the creek.
Holding in readiness small pair OF
oyster rakes, the fisherman stands in the
bow and poles his way slowly noiseless-
| ly along, always watching for the little
muddy mounds he knows so well. The
social creatures imbed themselves in
colonies of twenty or more, so that find
| ing one always means one nearby. On
| stormy days or after a freshet, when the
| creek is muddy, a heavy drag is drawn
behind the scoW, which carries a sail on
| these occasions, and many terrapin are
| thus scraped up. One of the best drags
d
erman fifty years ago, and its successful
operation brought him a host of custom
ers for the queer scoops
In Maryland the darlies use but one
method, the old-fashioned probing"
With a sharp pointed rod the fisherman
jabs the soft mud on all sides until he
strikes the rubber-like back shell, when
he speedily digs out his victim. In the
CarolinaS the blacks take advantage of
| the well known fondness of the terrapin
| for warmth and kindle fires in the dry
reeds along the bayous, knowing the
| heat will lure the silly creatures ashore.
| In the open weather fyke-nets are set
| and pounds which capture many dozens
| through the summer months.
| In the month of spawning some hunt
| ers trail the mother terrapin with
| trained mongrels. The dogs often come
| upon the nests and destroy the eggs, so
| that the better class of men condemn
| this mode. Along the Virginia shore
| 'bucking' terrapin is a favorite summer
| sport This is done by anchoring in a
| likely haunt and rapping sharply on the
| sides of the scrow until the inquisitive
| terrapin swim up to investigate and are
| caught in the nets spread around the
| boat. Any knocking noise seems to have
| a strange and Irresistible fascination for
| then.
| The Marylanders all pin their faith on
| the following recipe-old, but mighty
good: The terrapln, preferably fe-
| male, should be placed in the boiling
! water while alive. Boil until the upper
| shell separates readily from the lower on
slight pressure. then remove the gall
| from the larger lobe of the liver. care
| fully cutting deep around the sac to
prevent its bursting. Next remove the
| lungs, which lie we'll under the top shell.
| All the rest is edible. Place in a chatting
| dish and add cayenne pepper, salt, sweet
| butter and taste. Pour in now the heat
| ed champagne, sherry or Madeira, and,
| last of all, garnish with the luscious ter
| rapin eggs and serve redhot. Champagne
| should always accompany the DISH"