Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-11-06

Baltimore Sun:-Game and fish
dealers arc beginning to look around
for their annual supply OF diamond
back terrapin, as the closed season
will end with October, and after that
it Will be lawful to market this far
famed product Of the Chesapeake bay.
All among the lower bay terrapin
hunters and dealers are ready to
handle the few that they expect to
take from the water this season.
1t is generally believed that the sup
ply will b smaller than usual this
season, and as it has been steadily
diminishing for % years or more it
will not be long before the world
famed Chesapeake luxury will be
thing of the past. 1t seems strange
to read that the Maryland legislature
once passed a law to prohibit slave
owners from feeding terrapin to their
slaves oftener than once a week. A
well-known Baltimore dealer in fish
and games states that many years ago
a serious instruction broke out
among his grandfather's slaves be-
cause they were fed on diamond-back
terrapin SO often. They wanted pork,
which was more expensive than the
water food that has now become so
precious.
How to Increase the Supply.
Just what steps to take to prevent
the supply of diamo1.d backs from be-
coming wiped out entirely and to in
crease the present small number Of
terrapin, if possible, has been the
problem that has caused considerable
thought for years, and yet no practical
solution has been reached. Dealers
along the lower bay shores, it is said,
are now endeavoring to perfect some
means of artificial incubation, similar
to that which has reached a success
full point in fowl raising. 1t is a
question whether the terrapin will
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, at it's present rate of decrease,
will shortly become extinct.
While the supply is constantly
growing smaller the demand is in
creasing, or at least would increase if
1t could be supplied at anything short
of prohibitive prices. 1t requires a
well-filled pocketbook now, however,
to afford indulgence in this table
Inv a 81, g
the past would not have believed hat
the sea food found in such abundance
along their shores and fed to slaves
in order to save bacon would cost
their sons and grandsons at the rate
of from $50 to $100 a dozen, and be
difficult to provide even then for those
who could afford to pay the price. A
few years ago all the terrapin wanted
could be had for $40 dozen and less.
CrisfieId Quotations.
Crfsfeld, Md, is now the chief
source Of terrapin supply, although a
few are sent to market each season
from the Choptank river and the wat
ers of Talbot county. For some years
the dealers at Crisfield and other
points have been gathering the dia-
mOnd backs, few at a time, and keep
ing them in ponds staked Off in the
water Nearly all the good Chesa-
pealle terrapin left are now impris-
oned in these pounds, it is estimated.
1t is illegal to market those under 5
inches in length on the lower shell,
and pound men keep the understood
until they reach the re uired length.
Prices at Crisfield now are: For those
to 8 inches long, $50 a dozen; to
Z inches, $50 dozen; to inches
$14 dozen. and under 5 inches, 81 a
dozen.
There seems to be a great discrep
ancy between SEQ and 81 dozen, out
of all proportion to the size, but ter
rapin are distinguished for more quail
ties than mere price. AS they increase
in flavor with age and appear to be
more tender, the 100 or more years 0
terrapin's existence is worthy Of
some consideration. Then, as said be
fore, the small ones cannot be mar
keted, and not every hunter is able
TO keep them until they reach tn,
proper size.
The item of cost is considerabl!
increased, however, before the dia
mond back is found on the banque
board. Orders from consumers ar
usually placed with city dealers, wh'
may or may not be able to fill then
from the stocks on hand If a deale
receives a large order and hasn't
sufficient supply he slirnishes aroun,
among other dealers and frequent.
sends to other cities. New York an
Philadelphia are thus drawn upon a
times by Baltimore dealers to NEE
demands, but as q rule it is this cit
that is asked to help out her norther
sisters. In the course of the damon
backs progress from his native wa
ers to the epicures table it's valu
begins to soar. The price to the col
sumner ranges from $50 to $50 or NOR
a dozen. AS only the wealthy can Ell
joy the delicious dish, and as most {
those who include it in their specis
menus desire as good an article a
tIey can get. the cost is usually frol
500 to SIS a dozen. Large sizes rea,
lily bring $100.
Three Terrapin Pounds.
At Crisfeld are three terrapi
pounds, through which most of til
eastern trade is supplied. Former
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