Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-06-27
BREED TERRAPIN
FOR The MILLION
Bureau Of Fisheries FaVOTS
Artificial Propagation.
HOW TO RUN TURTLE FARM

Not Every One Can Co Into It Because
Proximity to Tide Water Is Nsoes-
sary Fer Successful Resute-senate
to Be Asked &c Grant Breeding AP-
preparation.
That the famed diamond back ter
rapin, at once the delight of the cpl
cures palate and tile 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
ca the ability Of the bureau Of fish
cries to arouse interest in the breeding
and propagation of the delectabe tur-
tie, which in recent years has become
50 nearly extinct. 1t was said that
folks might raise their own tcrrapin
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 ut its tcrrapin farm at
Beaufort, y. c., that the artificial
propagation Of these ariatocratic tur-
ties is thoroughly feasible and can be
made profitable The bureau soon will
send cut copies Of report which will
give full instructions how to raise your
own diamond back terapin.
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 Il hand Ivy way Of ar
titicial propagation, even the folk who
are willing to pay even the eXorbitaut
rates row charged for terrapin will
have to 90 hungry.
Selecting a Site.
On case q natural pond is not availa-
bic a fairly satisfactory Enclosure may
be made ON almost any low grade Of
ground 10 which salt water can be con.
Quoted by bitches or through which
some salt water creek flows. In such
loeation however the labor of digging
the bitches would be great, and there
would probably he much difficulty in
inducing The females to deposit all
their eggs iu the sand bed provided for
that purpose Locations on high
ground remote from SILT water and in
places whore there is 10 tidal flow
would be absolutely uusuited to terra
pin culture. Tens constructed in such
places become filed with foul odors,
mud and tlth.
Whatever type Of Enclosure is de-
cided upon, at least ten square feet
should be allowed for each adult terra
pin placed III ii. \ terrapin can live in
less space than This, and further expert
ments may show that the animals Will
stand croWding, but up to the present
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.
1.-THE first young terrapins may be
expected toward the middle Of August,
and from chat time on a few of them
will Ia spar from tNu,p IN titt,o ,,,,,,,-