The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-03
GREEN TURTLE sour SUPPLY:
Shipplng the Turtles TO New York and
HaeS ansI why the Scum @ pear.

MOst &c the green turtles brought hero
come FROM the coasts OF Cuba and lOridsy
f9raaarIy numbers were rereiNcd fro''i
the north coast Of South America. hUt
the South American green turtles now
go mostly "a Europe.
In shipment the green turtles flipperS
are tied together. tho forward On the hind
ripper On either side. 10 that IL cant
thrash them about. aud the CIrtle il
transported lying on its back. In this
situation il lies quiet. A tropical ar sub
tropical creature. the turtle il sensitive
60 cold. and 30 in winter when brought
On steamers as IL commonly is IL il carried
between decks. on deck in summer.
10 Il L. hnmRnely treatsd thcre is placed
under its head a bag of seaweed for a
pillow. IL IL nat fed in transit. indeed Il
will not eat Out OF W alter. green tnrtla
viii easily 20 six works without food.
three weeks without losing weight. When
received here green turtles are usually
promptly sold 10 local buyers or re-
shipped. II kept for any length Of time
thew are placed in tish cars in the water
and fed ON cabbage leaves and water
melon rinda .-
From here green turtles are shipped N
far east "a Boston. west as far a. the
Mississippi Rivers and north into Canada.
Many turtles are thus shipped by exprene
In cold weather when shipped IN this
manner turtles are sacked for their betfsr
protection. Tho turtle In placed In q bur
lap bag. which IN lined with dried seaweed
or excelsior. and then the bag u seyed
up snugly around it. the head being lsft
out. Here as always the turtle - trans
ported on it's back.
Sometimes tHrtles 10 be shipped long
distances arc Grated. In some States The
Law requires that they shall be- Grated.
The green turtle grows Co voish ~
much as COO or 100 pouDds, but the biggest
turtlea arc not sold. Turtles that ar"
consiierci as 81 good market weights
are those ranging at from 50 Co 30 pounds:
and the bsst ho1eas and RESTAURANTS wosfli
prefer three turtles Of 100 pounds apiece
20 one turtle Weighing 300 pounds. the
medium sized turtles are easier 90 handl"
and are choicer. Green turtle
on the boaf. 30 IN speak. meaning thereby
alive. are now selling at an average ol
about 10 cents a pound. choice seIeCt'sh
turtles costing two or three cents morn.
Only female turtles are used for food
purposes.
In making the finest soup material only
the under shell, which can be cumplotelv
under side Of the top shell are used, tbs
material when properly prepared being
mingled with some regular soup stoci
90 make the turtle soup. Sosnettmea fst
from other parts OF the turtles body -
used. and turtle steaks NAV bs osit frof,
the shoulder Of the turtles forward
fippers.
Altogether only about one-fifth Of
the turtles entire weight can be brougl,t
into use. which would make the cost oFfhn
finest green turtle soup material some
thing over q dollar a pound; and when
you come 10 take into consideration this
fact and the further COST % pvepn1afion
and service in such places. a markstmsn
eAid that the charge OF 81 or ~ 70. ~ nleds
in aome Of the hotels and restaurants for
n plate Of green turtle soup did nOeseern
exorbitant.