Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-03
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The Season fur the Great Delicacy vi the
ohssapeakc Opened Yesterday.
| Baltimore sun, Tuesday.
Years ago the negro slaves OF Mary
| land raised their voices in loud com
plaint because their masters insisted
! upon serving them diamond. back terra
pin twice week. They would rather
have pork, they said.
Today, according to the most Iromi..
nent terrapin dealers in Baltimore-and
Baltimore is the torrapin centre OF the
universe terrapin diamond back
the real thing" in other words, is
| a millionaire's dish, and dish which
only millionaire can afford to have
served upon the table before him.
The terrapin season opens tomorrow,
and the dealers say that the "birds"
so sought after by connoisseurs will be
| scarcer than ever this season. Real
Chesapeake terrapins are very scarce.
Year by year they are dying out, in
spite of the establishing Of artificial
pounds, and the time must come when
the epicure must content himself WIN
something almost as rood. IL II dcas
not have the brand OF the genuine dia-
| mond back
81 doubt whether there is one man
in thousand" said an expert yester-
day, ''who can tell the difference be-
tween diamond back and something
else, providing that the something else
is cooked properly and well. II is all
bosh, this telling the difference by
taste between various kinds Of terra
pins. can tell them apart when they
are alive. and l cannot tell the differ
ence when they are cooked, IL the same
| cook cooks them. II is the same way
| with canvas-back ducks. Ducks from
the South-you may not believe it, but
ii is true--are shipped to Port Deposit.
and are then sent to Baltimore as Sus-
quehanna canvas. backs, and people
who ought to know the difference buy
them and don't know the difference. .
The North Carolina and Savannah
terrapins are almost as scarce as the
Chesapeakes. The best that can be
said of the supply of these second"
terrapins this year is that it is "Ine-
dium." No shipments had arrived in
Baltimore last night, all classes of
terrapins being included, but several
large shipments are expected by the
most prominent dealers within the next
few days.
About the prices? Well, there comes
the rub. Real Maryland terrapins, six
inches and over, are quoted at $36 a
dozen today. They are the small fry,
too. A gourmand would not think Of
tasting anything but an eight-inch
count" Seven inches long and over,
Maryland style, bring $50 a dozen.
What can you get for those over
seven inches?" was asked.
Oh, they are very scarce, but if /
can get them ] can sell them readily
for y hundred, dollar bill"
Small North Carolina terrapins can
be bought today for 1924 dozen and
the larger ones-seven inches and over
for $40. The Savannah, or South
Carolina, reptiles may be had for SIS a
dozen. This is for the six-inch fellows,
and there are seldom any that come
any larger.
"Sliders," that popular substitute
for terrapin, are quoted in the markets
at LOO to Sl2 a dozen. There is a
splendid substitute for the terrapin,
and better substitute for the slider,
however, which will be pushed by the
| terrapin dealers this year. He is called
the golden diamond back and sells
from 50 to 80 dozen. II is safe to say
that he will be widely served and eaten.
An old-time terrapin man appeared
as the conversation with the terrapin
dealer was drawing to close.
There amt nobody in a ,,lndred, y
said he, what can tell the difference
between those here goldens and the
diamonds. There's lot OF people with
a barrel Of money who think they
know, but ! know they don't. Why,
| have known rich mon and clubs In
this town to be sold South Carolinas
at diamond back prices, and none OF
them what ate II knowed the differ
ence. If the real terrapin dies out he
wont be SO badly missed. There are
lots of others Just as good, as far r:
the eppicur is concerned"
How many dollars worth of terra.
pin will be sold in Baltimore this
season?" was asked of tho prominent
dealer.
"Half million dollars worth, " h,
said.
"And how much of that money will
be spent in rcal Chesapeake diamond
backs?" 20
! about SIS, 600"