Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-12-31
RAREsT OF DELACIES.
DIAMOND BACK TERRAPIN OFTEN
BRING $500 A DOZEN.
How the Species is Hunted-High Cost
Encourages the Use of Substitutes
Danger of Extinction-Found BY
Sounding With Stick.


keeping them in pounds staked off in
the water. Nearly all the good Chesa-
peake terrapin left are now impris-
oned in these pounds, it is estimated.
1t 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 at Crisfield now are: For those
seven to eight inches long, $50
dozen; six to seven inches, $50 a
dozen; five to six inches, s14 dozen,
and under five inches 81 dozen.
There seems to be great discrep-
ancy between $50 and 81 dozen, out
of all proportion to the size, but ter
rapin are distinguished for more quail
ties than mere price. As they in
crease in flavor with age and appear
to be more tender, the one hundred or
more years Of a terrapin's existence is
worthy of some consideration. Then,
as said before, the small ones cannot
be marketed, and not every hunter is
able to keep them until they reach the
proper size.
The item of cost is considerably in
creased, however, before the diamond
back is found on the banquet board.
Orders from consumers are usually
placed with city dealers, who may or
may not be able to fill them from the
stocks on hand If a dealer receives
a large order and hasn't a sufficient
supply, he sllirmishes around among
other dealers, and frequently sends to
other cities. New York and Philadel-
phia are thus drawn upon at times by
Baltimore dealers to meet demands,
but as rule it is this city that is ask
ed to help out her Northern sisters.
In the course of the diamond backs
progress from his native waters to the
epicure's table it's value begins to soar.
The prices to the consumer range
from $50 to $50 or more dozen. AS
only the wealthy can enjoy the delici-
Gus dish. and as most of those who in
clude it in their special menus desire
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 bust
ness all along the bay shores, but it
is now practically an incidental OF
the waterman's life, as the scarcity OF
the game makes the hunt Improbable.
1t is considered a great piece OF luck
at present to find a 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 slender iron bar
or "prod," which he sticks down at i'll
teryals of about six inches in spots
which look to him as though likely TO
hide the prey. Early in the fall the
terrapin go to the marshes and bury
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 Oh
ice The terrapin then seems TO rise
almost to the top Of the mud ana slhh
again. leaving q distinct depression as
II settles back in place. When struck
with the blunt end of the iron PROD
the hunter pulls the quarry out with a
little hook in one end OF the par
Sometimes a piece Of wood is struck
with the rod. The novice is unable 10
distinguish between the sound maue
unon 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 old nun
ters saw that the terrapin never nj
bernates in deep water, but always
seeks the shadows or the marshes
in which to bury.
In collecting terrapin enough LOT a
shipment the reptiles are sometimes
l,ent for several weeks out OF their
native element. They are usually stor-
ed in a dry temperate room or box un-
I'll ready to be sent to market.
The desultory collector or one not
regularly in the business usually shlps
his terrapin to market in smali lo's
coon after securing them and they arc
l,ant in the storage houses OF city deal
orc until wanted They are usually
n1aced in a. dry room or large DON
and left to shift for themselves. ohe
local dealer states that his hrm mas
nod s15 600 worth on hand at time'
"b,,+ that hasn't been within the last
ton wears" he added. The bay-shore
Collectors and dealers usually come
to the city about November l 10 al
range for marketing the seasons sup
ply. ,;no article
ond the regular demand for it nave, OIL
course led to the use of substitutes
como of which are sold ard bought IN
Good faith. while frequently the SUD-
stitute masouerades an the banquet
hoard as the highly priced diamond
back. rsad NJ
+beso nseudo diamond-backs is the
1,i,oxi terrapin, so called because 1t
COMES principally from the marshes
aU and bayous of the gulf near Biloxi,
Nil, Miss The golden" also often takes
the place of its more aristocratie s,o1Snn Tsla,
tive th, at stately functions. Many golden
como ~ from the West. The meat OF
these these plebian cousins Of the lord,y
oiamond lion back is not as dark. but only
~ the educated taste is much different
toorn ~ tho real luxury. The golden anu
biloxi articles are also increasing IN
value as the demand for them srows'
and those of good size and other mar. mar,
Eetable attainments sometimes reach