Milford chronicle., 1910-02-25
Legislative snake


II there ever was an act passed which
was a fragrant burlesque on intended leg
islation, that act was passed by the last
legislature Of this State and was entitled
"An Act for the Protection Of Diamond
Back Terrapin" Evidently our law
makers either neither read or heard
read the bill which was enacted into a
Law or else they must plead profound ig-
norance Of the Delaware Diamond Back
Terrapin its habits haunts and conditions
necessary for its propagation and protec-
ton Had the act been entitled AN
Act to Exterminate Diamond Back Ter
Tapin in the State Of Delaware. it would
have been much more readily under
stood. By this Act it s made unlawful
TO catch or take by any means whatso.
ever, in this State, any Diamond Back
Terrapin from the first day Of October
until the first day OF the following July.
About October frst in each year, the
diamond back begins TO consider as to its
winter home and betakes himself from
the rivers and creeks to the bitches tri
butary there to and often selecting his
hiding place imbeds himself in the mud
there to remain supposedly unmolested,
until the ldes Of March when he again
seeks the open waters and the propaga-
tion Of the species is rendered possible
by the hatchlng OF the eggs which the
COW terrapln crawling mp on the sands of
the shore deposits above the tidal marks
The eggs are lightly covered with sand
and the hot suns Of June and july hatch
shem ont The baby terrapin, be there ,
IS or 30 with one mind start out from Z
their blrth-nest and in Indian file 90 {
down the beach to the waters OF the Bsv q
and start ont individually in their battle 2
for liie-and it is just at this time when Z
there is possibility OF maintaining the o
and possibly producing an in ?
crease OF the species that the miserable /,
pot hunter is by especial enactment pro- s.
tected in his shameful pursuits and vii p
famous greed. S
TeIrapn at this time Of the wear, be- a
tween the months Of July and October h
are caught only in series, along the bav q
ihore and in the waters Of our rivers ad. =,
AGENT thereto.
There is no food demand for them At r,
his season. They are bought up for a -
ong by the owners Of terrapin pens and =,
IRE lmpounded until the winter when
he city markets offer a handsome price
or them. No citizen Of the State will be n
loWed to partake Of dish OF terrapiR ne
n season-but if he eats them at all or lo
as one IN his possession at all it must jo
e at time when be will possibly dis F.
r0p 80 terrapin in order TO eat one. The sv
oW terTapin is full OF eggs in July unless m,
ldeed they have already layed theirs for -
to take one at this time of
be year is precisely like putting a set
ne hen in the pot and leaving her eggs M
addle aud rot. VIC
No female Diamond Back Terrapin less dr.
ian 4 inches or male terrapin less than wa
inches, under shell measurement. A
.Ould be allowed to be in the possession tI,s
any one at any time, and no terrapin r.,
any kind should be allowed in a1v
les possession from the lst dav OF March
It'll the last day Of September. as'
The Act is exclusively ia the interest iou
the owners of the terrapin pen and ant
ouid be repealed Indeed It was a bio
lss injustice that such a bin should 7
We ever been permitted 20 become a dra
y. Let Il be wiped from the Statute FRO,
Ok and law passed for che protection rse
the tootbsome diamond back, that ~
! protect 49,