Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-09
MARYLAND TERRAPIN.
How the TOOthsOme Bird is Being
Exterminated

Exterminated.
From Forest and Stream.
DR.. Geo. w. Massamore, secretary and
treasurer of the Maryland Game and Fish
Protective Association, sends us the fol-
lowing report of investigation of the Mary
land diamond-back terrapin supply:
Il recently visited Crisfield, Somerset
county, and spent several days investigat-
ing the causes that have made diamond
pack terrapin SO scarce in Maryland wa
tiers. Mere terrapins are shipped from
Cr1sheid than from all other points in the
state combined, l believe. At CrisfeId are
located the two largest terrapin ponds in
the state. and perhaps the only ones of any
size in Maryland. The impounding of ter
rapin Is uiquestionably doing more toward
DISCRIMINATING them than all other causes
combined Terrapins will not grow in con-
hnement, or at least but very slowly; nor
Will they propagate. The largest terrap;n
dealer in this country is A. B. Riggin, Girls
held, whose pound at this time contains 2o,-
ooo d1amond-back terrapins. The sight was
mover. visited Mr.. Higgins pound just af-
ter the terrapins were fed. The scrambling
after mashed hard crabs upon which they
were led, was an interesting sight The
terrapins were SO thick that they were
craving over each other; the pound was a
moving mass that filled me with wonder
and amazement. Think of 10000 diamond
pack terrapInS on the move at the same
time, within an Enclosure of about an acre
The time was low tide, affording a good
view The bitches, grass tussocks and mud
puddies all seemed like a living, moving,
conglomerate mass, struggling for life
The other pound in Crisfield is owned by
A. l.. LaVallette, who is also an extensive
dealer in diamond-back terrapins Mr. La
Vallette was the first man to introduce the
nj mi
enterprise has, no doubt, proven profitable
and others have embarked in the same
business. All terrapins caught near Girls
Ield are sold to these two dealers. Mr.. La
Vallette, am told, has agents at different
places In Maryland. who buy up terrapins
for him. Mr.. Riggin buys considerable of
his stock in North Carolina They are the
exact counterpart of the MARYLAND terra
pin, and 1t is claimed they are as fine i'm
flavor. The pounds in which the terrapins
are confined are inclosed with a tight board
fence, ten feet high, with wire screens
across the openings where the water foods
and GIBBS in and out. The pounds are
watched day and Eight by armed men to
protect the terrapins from being stolen
From all the information obtained during
my stay in Crisfield, am thoroughly con-
vinced that the impounding of terrapins
must necessarily result in their final ex-
termination. 1t is a well established fact
that terrapins will not propagate confined
In pounds. Females lay from II to 20 eggs
twice during the season for incubation
fair estimate for each female would be 80
eggs. Take 10000 female terrapins now
held In confinement in the pounds at Girls
field (this number, am told, is q modest
estimate), and the result figures up the de-
struction of 100000 young terrapins These
figures demonstrate very clearly the neces-
sity for a trict enforcement Of the laws
against having in possession terrapins out
of season.
THE impounding Of terrapin is clearly a
violation of the law, both Of the general
state law and the local laws of the several
terapin counties. The laws have been al
lowed to go by default, as had the game
and fish laws. until the game warden,
through his deputies. has been rigidly en-
the past year. An enforcement Of the laws
at this time against parties who have
thousands of terrapin impounded would be
ruinous from a monetary standpoint. It
would only be just to notify parties having
terrapin impounded to get rid Of their
stock during the coming season, and at the
same time inform them that after the
expiration of the open season the laws will
be strictly enforced. This will be INV rec
ommendation to the game warden, Mr. j.
Omey Norris, and to the executive commit
tee of the Maryland Game and Fish Pro-
"A new general law Is much needed in
this state. making the season for taking
and having in possession diamond-back ter
rapins uniform The state law permits
taking terrapins from November to April
1. The possession of terrapin at any other
time is prima facie evidence of q violation
of the law; penalty. s. to $40 for each terra
pin. In Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's
counties the open season is from September
l to May l. Somerset. October to April 1.
Penalty for having in possession terrapin
at any other time from s. to SIS, varying
in the different counties.
THE state law Is undoubtedly the best
law, as Eve months (November i to April II
Is long enough season for taking terrapins
1t is hoped that all the counties having
local laws that conflict with the state law
will agree to q uniform season. It win be
better to repeal all laws and have q new