Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-06-28
BREED TERRApIN
FOR The MILLION
Bureau Of Fisheries FaVOrs
Artificial Propagation.
HOW TO RUN TURTLE FARM


Not Every One Can Co into It Because
Proximity to Tide Water 10 Necesr
sary For Successful ResuIts-Senate
to Be Asked to Grant Breeding APP
preparation.
That the famed diamond back ter
rapin, at once the delight Of the cpl
cures palate and the despair Of his
pocket, may soon be within reach OF
the poor mans purse was the subject
Of recent dispatches from Washington.
This possibility was made conditional
on the ability Of the bureau Of fish
cries to arouse interest in the breeding
and propagation Of the delectable tur-
tie, which in recent years has become
so nearly extinct 1t was said that
folks might raise their own terrapin
in their back yards, but this state
ment has been limited. Folks can do
this who have back yards on the sea-
shore or other bodies of salt water.
The bureau of fisheries, however has
no doubt from experiments that it has
carried on at its terrapin farm at
Beaufort. N. G., that the artificial
propagation Of these aarlstocratic tylr-
ties is thoroughly feasible and can be
made profitable. The bureau soon will
send ont copies of report which will
give full instructions how to raise your
own diamond back terrapin.
'Time was, says the bureau OF fish
cries, when the Potomac river in its
salt water stretches was alive with
diamond back terrapin. Now, unless
somebody lends hand by way of ar
thicial propagation, even the folk who
are willing to pay even the exorbitant
rates now charged for terrapin will
have to go hungry.
Selecting a Site.
'Tn case n natural pond is not availa.
Bile fairly satisfactory Enclosure may
be made on almost any low grade Of
ground to which salt water can be con.
Quoted by bitches or through which
some salt water creek flows. In such
location, however, the labor of digging
the bitches would be great, and there
would probably be much difficulty In
inducing The females to deposit all
their eggs in the sand bed provided for
that purpose Locations on high
ground remote from salt water and in
places where there is no tidal flow
would be absolutely unsuited to terra.
pin culture. Pens constructed in such
places become filed with foul odors,
mud aud filth.
'Whateyer tyne OF Enclosure Is de-
cided upon. at least ten square feet
should be allowed for each adult terra
pin PLACED in it, A terrapin.can live in
less space than this, and further expert
ments may show that the animals viii
stand crowding, but up TO the present
a minimum OF ten square feet seems
desirable"
The report says that under natural
conditions the care of the adult terra.
pins presents very little difficulty and
that in suitable localities the cost of
feeding is so small as almost to be
negligible, and if supplies are reasona-
bly, close at hand and the pen is close
at hand a man should be able to care
for several thousands of the animals.
The laying season begins as soon as
the weather becomes warm and lasts
for several weeks, and in this connec-
ton the report continues:
The Young Terrapins.
'The first young terrapns may be
expected toward the middle of August,
and from that time ON few of them
viii be seen from time to time crawl
ing about the bed They will remain
above ground for only a short time.
but during that time if there is any
avenue of escape they are pretty Ger
tain to find it. To one who is familiar
With the adult animals the climbing
of the young ones is astounding. They
can ascend to the top Of a rough board
fence with ease and by selecting a cor
ner in which to cling can make their
way over a concrete wall two or three
feet high. The diamond back terra
pin was formerly found along the east
ern and southern coasts of the United
States, but seemed TO be more in abun.
dance in the warmer sections"
The report says that good terrapins
Tor breeding purposes can usually be
obtained from dealers and that prices
vary considerably. Unless the bureau
secures an appropriation from congress
for the purpose it will not be able to
furnish bre0ling stock. There is a
possibility that congress win authorize
the distribution Of young terrapins in
the same manner as fish fry.
KIDNEYS GONE. BOY LIVES.