New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
TO RAISE MORE TERRAPIN.
PLANS FOR INCREASING THE SuPPLf
OF THE CHERISHED DIAMOND
BACK TURTLE

Commissioner James c. Tawes, who is prepar-
Ing to put in operation a plan for restoring the
supply OF the toothsome damond-back lie Is
confident that the terrapin can be propagated
with ease and surprising cheapness. and that
with the aid of the State the supply may easily
be maintained The cause Of the rapid decline
In the quantity of .errapin is considered 10y the
natives to be due to the destruction of the ter
rapin eggs These laid in high sandy places
and scores Of people patrol the sandy beaches
daily in the in search of them. They
carry them off to be eaten as table luxuries' just
as hens eggs They are very rich and de-
licious. Captain Tawes proposes If he receives
sufficient appropriation 10 justify IT, to lnciose
number Of females in State pound or pounds,
and to hatch out young ones from the eggs.
Terrapin begin laying about the middle of May,
and the eggs hatch in about thirty days. The
female terrapn scratches a hole in the sand,
deposits her eggs, from thirteen to nineteen. in
it, and then covers them up and allows the heat
Of the sun on the sand to hatch them.
They are not much bigger when Matched than
a mans thumbnail, and soft as dough.
o They crawl around in a lively way and begin
to hunt for their food, which consists OF small
fish, crabs, etc. In the first summer they are
quite small, and about November they go into
their winter quarters These consist of soft mud
holes in the marsh, or on the bottom OF some
stream. Here they sleep until about the middle OF
April or later. and when they come out they
are about four inches in breadth. The next year
they have increased to six inches and the third
to seven inches. Mr.. Tawes thinks that there
are several varieties the coast but that in
some OF the Southern States they have precisely
the same variety in Maryland the only diff
ference being that in this State the period OF
alternating is longer than it is further South.
THE TERRAPIN SLEEPS WITH PROFIT
II Is undoubtedly while the terrapin slumbers
IN the mud that he acquires the peculiar quail
Ties FOR which he is loved by the epicure The
terrapin sleeps night and day for six to seven
months of the year and takes his night maps
regularly during the rest OF the time
Commissioner Tawes is Of the opinion that he
couid make decided impression upon the ter
rapin supply in short time He would do this
not because the terrapn is a luxury but be-
cause it used to be and again become a
source of great profit to those who catch 1t
upon the great marshes Of the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries
A. 7. Lavallette Of this place has an immense
terrapn pound which is securely fenced in so
as to prevent The escape of the high priced in
mates. He has at present about ten thousand
the winters sleep. not in the pound but in
big cellar. This is kept dark and above the
freezing point. but not too warm The dealers
here have an immense trade in terrapn in Wash
ington, Baltimore. Philadelphia and New-York.
They received one order for $1,000 worth of ter
rapin on the occasion Of the visit of Li-Hung-
Chang to New-York. and they supplied the ter
rapin for the Bradley-Martin ball. They also
make large Shipmeuts % ne West
The terrapin shippers opposed to the bill
now pending in the Legislature BY its pro-
visions the catching of diamond back terrapin
between April and November / is prohibited
under a penalty Of SO for every terrapin
cfught trapped or killed. At no time shall the
terraI in caught measure less than five inches
on the under shell. No person shall have in his
possession. expose for sale or buy any OF the
aforesaid fish during the closed season.
CRITICISM OF THE BILL.
George Rigrin. another large dealer who has
pound containing between eight thousand and
ter thousand terrapn. says:
THE bill will have the tendency to destroy our
business and throw the trade of Maryland deal
ers into the hands Of Vrginians while at the
time ii viii retard instead OF promoting
the propagation Of terrapin The terrapins will
be caught just the same and instead OF being
sold to legitimate Dealers who would place them
In pounds where they might grow and fatten,
they will be kept in barrels and boxes until the
season opens when they will be placed upon
the market in a bad condition II the catchers
do not desire to hold them for the winter they
have only to cross the line into Virginia where
there two dealers on Deep Creek. Accomac
County ready to purchase all the terrapn they
can get 1t would be necessary TO have the same
Law passed by the Legislatures Of Virginia and
N1rlh Curnllna In nrdnr do iusticn N he