The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-17
DIsCoVERER OF TERRAPIN.
Man Who Made the "Diamond |
Backs" Fame Has Another Place
in History.
From the Denver Times.

in History.
From the Denver Times.
Diamond-back terrapin. daintiest of
dainties-thofgh scarcely appreciated
in the West, which has table joys of
its own-and the man who first appre-
ciated the edible are about to receive
due recognition.
The Historical Society of Delaware
will mark the birthplace of John Mid
dleton Clayton with a bronze plate,
giving a record of his services as a
member of the State Legislature, as a
leader of the State Constitutional Con-
vention, as Chief Justice of Delaware,
as United States Senator. and as Sec
rotary of State under President Taylor.
one interesting fact about Clayton.
however, 1t will not mention. To him
more than 10 any of the earlier leaders
in public life belonged the credit OF in
PRODUCING the diamond back terrapin.
Like most Delawareans, he looked with
kindly eyes upon the good things of
life. He respected the treasures of the
sea and the rivers. and his table gener-
ally had about the best that the mar
ket and careful forethought could sup
ply.
Diamond back terrapin was his spe-
cial delight. He knew how TO have 1t
cooked and how to have 1t served. and
the proper things to go with II.
The delicacy was not greatly appre-
ciated at that time. The marches along
the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays
were full of them. and the supply went
far beyond the demand. Between ter
rapin and pork of the negroes, who did
most. of the catching, would take pork
every time.
a. e. h.
terrapin became even a respectable
commercial commodity. When they
brought a dollar each the price was
looked upon as rank extravaganza; but
As acquaintance grew the figures soar
ed. At $25 a dozen the top seemed to
have been reached. but by this time
the diamond-back was beginning to
acquire a reputation that crossed the
ocean.
The visitors and diplomats who came
here fell victims to the American dish,
and thus IT happened that before long
diamond back terrapin were being sent
TO the courts OF Europe.
Still the price went up. No big din
ner was complete without diamond
back. The era of costly entertaining
set in, and on the crest of the wave
was the same humble diamond back.
no longer sold by the CARLOAD. but
holding within itself a price far be-
yond that Of any other turtle.
Thus IL has kept on until the rate for
count" terrapin-that is. terrapin sew
en- inches long or over-went as high
as 800 a dozen, with an inadequate
supply at that astonishing figure.
IL John NJ. Clayton. who died only
a half century ago. could come back.
he would find that his salary Of $4,000
as secretary OF state would not afford
very many Of the terrapin dinners
which he once gave with so much sue
cess and at such ridiculously low cost.
He would find more than that. In
the states where the diamond backs
thrive there are strict laws forbidding
under heavy penalties the catching of
diamond back terrapin from April |
10 Nov. t. This Is 10 allow them 10 lay
their eggs and raise new crops and
get well fattened for the winter feasts.
Just about now the sun Us busy hatch
ing little diamond backs.
Terrapin farming has been tried but
IL has failed. because the terrapin loses
its lndehnable flavor when kept In cap
tivity. IL becomes tame quickly
enough. and II viii find out food hours
almost as readily as a cat, but some-
how II loses lts charm when confined.
The winter habits OF the terrapln are
past understanding. The matter was
tested many years ago IN one Of the
Baltimore clubs. A terrapln was care
fully weighed and then placed IN a box
without food Or drink Months after
ward the box WAS opened. ana the ter
rapln, alive ana well. weighed almost
exactly the same ne when locked up
] have a. friend who owned - farm
HiOnn the iidewnfff section ~ MnrY.
land. Meet ~ n was Island and marsh.
aud - little Was The return from Il