The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-06-24
TERRAPlN ARE SCARCE.
THE CATCH OF DIAMOND BACKS
GROWING SMALLER DAILY.
Fish Commissioner Bowers Declares
the Species Must Eventually Be-
come Exterminated Without Radi-
cal Measures Are Adopted.

SlOner bowers calls aJCenJlOn 10 the
growing scarcity Of the diamond back
ed terrapin, and declares that the
species must eventually become eX-
terminated if present methods of the
industry continue, or if no steps are
taken to arrest the decline by cuiti-
walton. For years the Chesapeake
Bay has been the most productive re-
gion of this high priced and much
Sought delicacy. Statistics OF the
catch in that region, therefore, will
give a pretty good idea of the rapid
decline in the industry. In 1901, for
instance, the catch of terrapin IN
Marylands part of the bay was only
,one-sixtieth of the quantity and one
twentieth of the value of the catch OF
1891. In that portion Of the bay be-
longing to Virginia the catch in 1901
was one-tenth the quantity and one
thirtieth the value Of that in 1891.
This decrease has in part been
made good by the importation of ter
rapin from the South Atlantic and
Gulf States, and has, therefore, not
had the effect on prices that might
otherwise have been expected.
Though the more Southern terrapin
is inferior to the Chesapeake Bay
variety it becomes a fair substitute
on being kept awhile in pounds before
being shipped to market.
The Commission is now making a
study of the diamond back terrapin
of the Chesapeake Bay region with a
view to ascertaining the extent and
causes of the decrease, the laws reg
ulating terrapin fishing and the like.
Incidental to this investigation into
the extent and causes of the decrease
of the terrapin special attention is
directed to those points in the natural
history Of the species which bear on
the question of artificial rearing, and
a series Of experiments has been in
augurated directed to this phase of
the subject.
The most notable of these are ex-
perimental pounds on the ChOptank
River, Maryland, laboratory and in
vestigati0ns at Beaufort, N. G. At
the Latter place the terrapin are kept
under the constant observation Of
scientists employed in the laboratory,
and a careful study of their growth,
breeding habits and the like is made.
Also here in Washington the Commits
sion has men making a systematic
study of terrapin brought together
from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia
North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Texas, in order to de-
termine the specific or varietal differ
ences. All these Investigations and
experiments were commenced in 1902
but the final report on them will not
be made up until the end of the pres
ent season, by which time it is hoped
a practicable method of cultivation
may have been developed.
Inquiries and experiments Of much
the same nature are being made with
reference to the oyster, the lobster
and the blue crab Experiments in
the Matching and rearing of Holsters
are conducted at the Woods Hole,
Mass, station, and final and COM
plete report on them will soon be
made by those in charge, Also the
Commission is having handbook
prepared giving information regarding
the habits, growth and rearing Of
Holsters, as we'll as the method and
extent of the lobster fisheries. Touch
ing these the reports says:
"The condition of the lobster fish
cry has been practically unchanged
for several years, although it cannot
be doubted that the tendency is
downward. The catch fluctuated some
what from year to year and certain To-
calities may show a decided increase;
but if the general output in a State
is greater in one year than another