The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-02
IERRAP|N Is
NON SCARCE
DiamOnd-BaCk Variety Diff
cult to Secure.
WAS ONCE PLENTIFUL
Efforts Being Made to Pre-
serve the Animal.
WAS ONCE PLENTIFUL

Game and fish dealers are beginning
10 look around for their annual supply
OF diamond-back terrapin, as the closed
season ended withOctobcr. and after that
1t VIII be lawful to market this far
famed product OF the Chesapeake Bay.
All along the lower bay rerrapin hunters
and dealers are ready 10 handle the few
that they expect 10 take from the water
1t is generally believed that the supply
Win be smaller than usual this season.
and as it has been steadily diminishing
for twenty-five years or more It Will not
be long before the vorld-famed Chesa-
peake luxury viii be a thing Of the past
1t seems strange TO read that the Mary
land Legislature once passed a law TO
prohibit slave owners from feeding terra
pin to their slaves eftener than once a
week. a well known Baltimore dealer
in fish and game says that many years
ago serious resurrection broke out
among mis- grandfather's slaves because
they were fed on diamond back so often.
They wanted pork, which was more ex-
pensive than the water food that has
now become so precious.
Just what steps 10 take 10 prevent the
supply of diamond backs from becoming
wiped out entirely and 10 increase the
present small number of terraptn. II pos
sible. has been problem that has caus-
ed considerable thought for years, and
yet no practical solution has been reach
ed. Dealers along the lower bay shores,
1t Is said are now endeavorfng 10 perfect
some means OF artificial incubation. sim
liar to that which has reached a success
full point in fowl raising N IS a question
whether the terrapin win propagate in
captivity, but the use of incubators will
serve to protect the eggs from their
enemies, principally marsh rats and
crows. Unless some such steps are taken
the diamond back, OF its present rate
of decrease. will shortly become extinct.
While the supply is constantly growing
smaller. the demand is increasing. or al
least would increase IL II could be sup
piled at anything short OF prohibitive
prices. 1t requires a well filled pocket
book now, however. to afford indulgence
in this table luxury. The old plantation
masters OF the past would not have be-
lieved that the sea food found In such
abundance along their shores and fed TO
slaves in order to save bacon owuid cost
their sons and srandsons at the rate Of
from $50 TO 500 a dozen. and be difficult
70 provide even then for those who could
afford 10 pay the price. A few years ago
all the terrapih wanted could be had
for SO dozen and less.
.Crisneld. Md. Is now the chief source OF
10 market each season from the Chop
tank River and the waters OF Talbot
county. For some years the dealers at
Crisfeld and other points have been gath
cring the diamond backs, few az
time, and keeping them In pounds staked
off in the water Nearly all the good
Chesapeake terrapin left now are impris-
oned In these pounds. II is estimated.
II Is Illegal TO market those under five
inches in length on the lower shell. and
pound men keep the understood until
they reach the required length. Prices
al Crisheld now are: For those seven 20
seven inches SIS dozen; FIVE 10 six in
ches. 81 a dozen. and under five inches.
s. dozen.
There seems 10 be 4 great discrepancy
between $50 and So dozen, out OF all pro-
portion to the size. but terrapin are dis
tinguished for more qualities than mere
rrice As they increase IN favor with
age and appear 10 be more tender. the
che hundred OF more years OF terrapin's
existence are worthy OF consideration.
Then. as said before. the small ones can
rot be marketed. and not every hunter
is able 10 keep them uatl they reach
the proper size.
The item OF cost IS considerably in
creased. however. before the diamond
back is found on the banquet table Or
ders from consumers are usually placed
with city dealers. who may or may not
be able 70 iii them from their stocks on
hand II a dealer receives a large order
and hasn't a sufficient supply. ne Skin
mishes around among other dealers. and,
frequently sends 10 other cities. New
York and Philadelphia are thus drawn
upon al times by Baltimore dealers 70
meet demands. bat IS rule Il Is the
city of New York that is asked 20 help
out her northern sisters. IN the course
OF the diamond backs progress from his
native waters 20 the eplcure's table its
value begins t. scar. The prices 20 the
consumer range frora 80 10 80 Or more
a dozen. As only the weaithy can enjoy
Tie delicious dizh. and as most u those
inciude It in their special menus desire
as good an article - they can get ths
cost IS usually from ~ 20 E7s dozen.
Large sizes really bring 800
~ Cr.sHald are three terrapin pounds.
through which most q THE Eastern trade
3 Supplied. Formerly terrapiu hsid fer
market we're kept 81 boxes ard barrels
unin the tine for shipment. auf they usu-
ssiv become vcry po5r. and r5ang dled
one winter 4 C-isasi6 dealer rad hun
dreds ~ chem stored IN q vacant house
ard during t,1s cod weather nearly hair
az .hsra free This sr1rzssfe. fhe lde7 70
l-erfuE them fr tnssr native - eEsrt- anc
rsaurss u.ere corstructec fcr IRIS Frlrrsos-.
These are Simply rections q water -
la~iosed tt1t tfle ;erFarsa carraf sscaIc
A la-re tract o. marsh land 4 surround
"a BY z hlrh board fen~e. .Ets7tirg frn-n
tsio g. three tess into The Md Tae
snterirr q ther sivf5ed into c nuuah@r
Of co-partraeats csnsasnizy r. :s-raVia
IN orsrr - thcsr size IAeo 50nss sr6
ard ca-sis ar 6lg. - that the tises car
have free Sweep through fhe Yor7fs.
ara sire lifting T. issez % prevent -
te~rsQsn from swimming frc- ere CT
vsrsnee1t - Ero-hsr
Firaly lsrge zaaz BEDS sys constructed.
xhe-s the fsnales ray ~ fhsir sEgE -
t. haf-hez - -. hezt - fhe s1n. T-le--
s--ss ara s~seusr-fy erz-f-sf. aas re
rcsnE tr-arfn a-s renored- he ro--s
waz7 a-=- hztcE-a are rers.e-.y So.
nj = taxes = rr-',sT = csla fcr ~