The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-02

\
larry on harc-shell crabs. and sem &c
| get along very well.
Catching terrapin for market was ones
! more or less followed as a business all
along the bay shores. but Il is now prac-
/ ticaiy an incidental OF the waterman
/ life, as the scarcity OF the game makes
| the hunt improbable. Il is considered
a great piece OF luck at present 70 find
diamond back or two Struggled down il
the mud Dredging for them with drags
somewhat resembling the crab net was
| lucrative al one time. but is now almost
forgotten. The few found are taken IN a
different way.
The dianond-baok hunter goes out 70
the marshes with slender iron bar or
prod" which he sticks down az inter
yals OF about six inches in spots which
relations would be furthered b. The reaii-
look to him as though likely TO hide the
Irey. Esrly in the fail terrap!n go %
the marshes and bury themselves in the
soft mud 10 the depth OF foot or more.
Many sink in the mud az the bottom OF a
nuskrat run. Others select some retired
pond and disappear from sight in its ooze
In these places the '-prodder" hunts u.s.
ually after the first winter thaw OF ice
The terrapsn then seems 20 rise almost
10 the top OF the mud and sink again
leaving a distinct depression as IL settles
back in place. When struck with the
hunt end OF tie srun prod the hunter
PULLS the quarry out Of the little hook
IT, one end Of the bar. Sometimes :
riece CT wod is struck with the rod. The
novice IS unable 70 distinguish between
the sound made upon the wood and the
ring OF the terrarin's hack. but 70 the
experienced hunter Il IS quite different.
and he seldom makes mistakes. The
cid hunters say that the terrapin never
Libernates in deep water but always seeks
the shadows Of the marshes in which
to bury.
In collecting terrapin enouGh fer a
shipment the reptiles are sometimes kept
element. They ar usually stord n dry
and temperate room or box until ready
10 be sent 10 market
The desuitoYy collector or one not regu-
ltriy IN the business usually ships his ter
lapin 10 market In small lots soon after
securing them and they the kept IL the
storage houses Of city dealers until they
are wanted. They are usually placed In
a dry room or large box and left 20 shit
for themselves. One local dealer states
that MS firm has had $500 worth on
hand at a time. but that hasn't been
within the last ten years" he added. The
hay-shore collectors usually come 70 the
city about November : TO arrange for
marketing the seasons supply.
The scarcity o. the genuine article and
the regular demand for it have. OF course,
led 20 the use OF substitutes. some OF
which are sold and bought in good faith.
while frequently the substitute masGuer-
AIDES on the banquet board a. the highly
priced diamond back.
One OF the mast frequently used OF
these pseudo diamond backs Is the Biloxi
terrapin. so called because ~ comes prin-
cIpally from the marshes and bayous OK
the gulf near Biloxi. Miss. The COLDER"
also often takes the place OF its more as
istocratic relative az stately functions.
Many golden golden come from the west.
The meat OF these plebian cousins Of the
lordly diamond back Is not as dark. but
only 70 the educated taste Is much dif-
ferens from the real luxury. The Golden
and Biloxi articles are also increasing
in value "a the deman for them Slows.
and those of good size and other market
able attainment. sometimes reach as high
al S25 a dozen.
With the passing of the diamond back
the business OF developing 'sliders" anc
.'redbeIly' terrapin for market has be-
gun in some sections Of the eastern shore.
The ''sliledr" often attains large proper
lions. weighing as much as 20 pounds
or more. The red belly Is smaller
species. The larger variety OCCASIONALLY
sells for as high as t25o apiece. though
the average price Is from : cents 10 $50.
The smaller variety sells for from 3 cents
10 $3.50 a dozen.
These terrapin bury "a the mud from
three 20 five feet deep and like The dia
n1ond back. are found Oy sounding with
& stick and pulled out with hook. The
female. before she deposits her eggs. r.
mostly sought after, as the numerous
eggs greatly add 20 the richness OF the
prepared dish. The female terrapIn de-
posits her eggs ranging from twenty
I've 20 thirty n number. in TIE sandy
fields near the bedding grounds. The eggs
are covered with sand and packed al;
night and the terrspin seeks the water
again before the hot sun reaches her.
Old trappers say they have known terra
pin 20 BE killed by the sun while making
their way to the marsh after laying
The crow f. the greatest enemy r. The
terrapiu. hunting out their nests and de-
stroying the eggs BY Wholesale Baits-
more sun.