The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-12-11

as good an article as they can get, the
cost is usually from $50 to SIS dozen.
Large sizes readily bring 500.
Catching terrapin for market was
once more or less followed as a busl-
ness all along the bay shores, but it
is now practically an incidental OF
the waterman's life, as the scarcity or
the game makes the hunt Improbable.
It is considered great piece OF luck
at present to find diamond back or
two snuggled down in the mud. Dredg-
ing for them with drags somewhat
resembling the crab net was lucrative
at one time, but is now almost forgot
ten. The few found are taken IN a
different way.
The diamond-back hunter goes out
to the marshes with a slender iron par
or "prod." which he sticks down at IN
tervals of about six inches in Spots
which look to him as though likely to
hide the prey. Early in the fall the
terrapin 20 to the marshes and oury
themselves in the soft mud to the
depth of foot or more. Many SINK IN
the mud at the bottom of a muskrat
run. Others select some retired pond
and disappear from sight in its ooze.
In these places the "prodder" hunts
usually after the first winter thaw Of
ice The terrapin then seems TO rise
almost to the top of the mud and SINK
again, leaving distinct depression as
II cett1es hack in place. When struck
with the blunt end OF the iron proo
the hunter pulls the quarry out Win
little hook in one end OF the par.
Sometimes a piece of wood is struck
with the rod. The novice is unaole 10
distinguish between the SOUND maoe
,,non the wood and the ring OF terra
nin's back, but to the experienced
hunter it is quite different, and ne sell
dom makes mistakes. The ola hun'
ters say that the terrapln never III
hernates in deep water, but Always
.o.Ls tho shadows or the marshes
in which to bury.
In collecting terrapin enough 1or
shipment the reptiles are sometimes
kent for several weeks out OF tneif
,o+;ve element. They are usually stor-
cd in a dry temperate room or Dox un-
I'll ready to be sent to market. !,
The desultory collector or one not
ree,1arlv in the business usually snlps
his terrapin to market in sman io's
coon after securing them and tney are
kent in the storage houses OF city oeai-
arc until wanted. They are usually
n1oced in a dry room or large ooA
and left to shift for themselves" Ohe
local dealer states that his hrm has
hod $4,000 worth on hand at a tlme'
"hu+ that hasn't been within the ias'
ton years" he added. The bay-snore
collectors and dealers usually colio
- the city about November 1 70 al-
uoraa for marketing the seasons sup
ply. ,;,a article
The scarcity of the genuine ar.lcls
and the regular demand Tor II have, ~
course. led to the use OF substitutes -
Come of which are sold and bought III
aood faith. while frequently the SUP
stitute masquerades an the Danqus'
hosrd as the highly priced dlamonu'
back. ill., .od ~
One Of the most frequently used Oh
these pseudo diamond-backs IS 1ne
Riloxi terrapin, so called because IL
comes principally from the marshes
ond bavous of the gulf near BlloAi'
Miss The golden" also often taxes
the nlaee of it's more aristocratlc Ieia
tive at stately functions. Many goioen
ooroo from the West. The meat OIL
these plebian cousins OF the ioiu,y
Diamond hack is not as dark, but only
to the educated taste is much dlAeien.
from the real luxury. The goloen aiiu
pi,oxi articles are also increasing III
value as the demand for them grows
.nd those of good size and other mar
ketable attainments some1lmes ie"0N
as high as s25 a dozen.
with the passing of the diamond
hack the business OF oe'e!oplne
"sliders" and "red-belly' terrapln lor
nsrket has begun in some sections OF
tho Eastern Shore. The "sllder often
attains large proportions. weighing as
much as twenty pounds or more. Inc
"red-belly" is q smaller species. Inc
larger variety occasionally sells for as
high as $3.50 apiece, though the a, aver en
age price is from IS cents to sl'eo: ~
Tbe smaller variety sells for from 70
cents to $3.50 a dozen.
These terrapin bury in the mud from
three to five feet deep and, like the
diamond-back, are found by sounding
with a stick and pulled out with
hook. The female, before she deposits
her eggs, is most sought after, as the
numerous eggs add greatly to the rich
ness Of the prepared dish. the 1e-