New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-09

lower shell. and pound men keep the understood
until they reach the required length. Prices at
Crisheld For those to eight inches
long. 500 dozen; six to inches, S96 dozen:
five 10 six inches ST dozen. and under five inches.
50 q dozen.
AT CrisfieId are three terrapIn pounds through
which Of the Eastern trade is supplied. For
merry terrapin held for market were kept in boxes
and barrels until the time for shipment. but they
usually became very poor, and many died. one
winter Cristleld dealer had hundreds of them
stored in a vacant house. and during the cold
weather nearly half Of them froze. This suggested
the idea of keeping them in their native element
and pounds were constructed FOR this purpose
These simply sections OF water enclosed that
the terrapin cannot escape a large of marsh
land is surrounded by high board fence. extend
ing from two three feet into the mud The in
terror is then divided into a number of compart-
ments containing the terrapin IN order of their
size Then ponds and canals dug. that
the tides can have free sweep through the pounds
FINALLY large sand bsfs ora p onstr,,t W b
the females may lay their eggs TO be Matched by
the heat of the sun These beds frequently ex-
amined. and the young terrapin are removed. The
II takes number of days for the shell to harden;
not come out of the sand at all during the first
season II left 10 its own inclination One dealer
now has large box filled with young which were
Matched in his pound last summer; The terrapin
and seem to get along very we'll
Catching terrapin for market was once more
mans life as the Scct of 0 ib o. 1s %
OF luck at present 10 find diamond back two
with drags somewhat resembling the crab net
was lucrative at one time. but is now almost for
The diamond back hunter goes out on the marshes
down nj inTeryais f b6t W I ne sITcS
look to him as though likely hide the prey Early
themselves in the soft mud to the depth Of a foot
or more. Many sink I'm the mud at the bottom OF
Ipcf traH DOy,H nv,d
disappear from sight in its Ooze In these places
thaw of ice The terrapin then seem TO rise almost
70 the top Of the mud and sink again. leaving dis
struck with the blunt end of the iron prod the
one end of the bar Sometimes a piece OF wood is
struck with the rod The novice Is unable to dis
and the ring of terrapin's back but to the expe-
rienced hunter it is quite different. and he seldom
raPin never hibernates in deep water. but always
In collecting terrapin enough for shipment the
Of their native element They are usually stored i'm
a dry and temperate room or box until ready be
The desultory collector or one not regularly in
in small lots soon after scoring them and they
are kept In the storage houses of city dealers until
local dealer states that his firm has had SIS GgO
worth on hand time, hut that hasn't been
within the last ten years. he added The bay shore
collectors and dealers usually come the city
about November to arrange for marketing the
seasons supply.
The scarcity OF the genuine article and the regu-
lar demand for IL have OF course to the use OF
substitutes. some Of which are sold and bought In
good iaith. while frequently the substitute mas
glerades on the banquet board the highly priced
diamond back
One Of the most frequently used OF these pseudo
diamond backs Is the Biloxi terrapin so called be-
cause 1t comes principally from the marshes and
bayous of the Gulf near Biloxi. Miss The golden
also often takes the place Of Its more aristocratic
relative at stately functions. MANY golden come
rrom the West The meat of these plebeian cousins
or the lordly diamond back is not dark but
only 10 the educated taste Is much different from
tne real luxury The golden and Biloxi articles are
also increasing in value as the demand for them
Grows, and those of good size and other marketa-
dozen. - w.