The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-11-24

+sts
Eaanared In Nets
IllIi alas as they reach the top
many lind themselves ensnared
n ne skilfuliy placed nets of the
an6 fishermen. who are experts
- fieir ffadc--the art of which
IS faflied down from father to
ea ~ re Cayman Islands. Often
fae nets are l25 feet long and
femiGo careful handling. The
fmfies are taken from them,
4kef fippers tied together with
EFan q Prevent their slapping
fafh other. then with gentle care
is are placed aboard the.
huneF nn their backs to pre-
KsHi their enormous weight from
ffmhne them. The captor then
faNs hls initials on the soft
fNHherf belly for individual
ele.iIl ehen the turtles are de-
neefnd ~ the Key West factory
ssaals
These monsters can live on
tF backs i0 10 10 days aboard
Faln. bat water must be poured
n them several times daily,
Hn1h % which they drink. When
f.e schooner has its load of near
81 80 turtles Il starts its swift
tnfner 20 Key West. where the
aEeal bsonxcd backs of these
e<n'Hons If the deep. often four
fat across. may be seen swim
m|nH conlentedly in their new
honse. The kraals are cement
pls built 70 allow the sea water
- circulate freely with the ebb
aN ficw 81 the tides, and quite
nIIen one may see fish swimming
ennng ire turtles, who never
harm them. Seaweed being their
aai2 food, two divers employed
~ the factory bring dinners for
4kNIE najcsties. the green sea
tluiles. avistocrats of the sea.
slah OF Relief
IL the iiraals they rise to the
ealfacc frequently and take deep
Intakes q air; their breathing
fnds very much like a great
6Iah a relief. Many are shipped
frum KEY West alive to distant
eIlios. Placed on their huge backs,
~ an open crate that just fits
tlten. they are flown, to. their
destination. where weeks later
their tender, delicious steaks may
- found ON the dining tables Of
Eeufmets IN New York, Phila-
delphia or Boston.
Green sea turtles are absolute.
y harmless. Boys, by placing the
fiasped hands beneath the turtle:
throat. % prevent his diving, may
uficn be seen riding them in tn,
MatcI Many are found in tn,
waters Of the Gulf surrounding
key Wet. but not in larg,
enough quantities for commercial
purposes.
Then TOO. the eel grass adjacen
o. the Caymon Islands gives tn
turtle from that vicinity its rare
doicctable flavor. Many connois
snufs consider the soup mad
from these creatures a luciou
treat. and say the flavor is great
~ cnhanccd by adding a SINAI
quantlty % sherry wine to tn
soup after the can is opened, be
fare placing on The stove t
SEINE Weigh 500 Pounds
This particular variety of turtl
Is aid 90 live TO be 500 years ole
and often weighs 500 pounds.
fEw hape been known to reac
500 sounds. In the City-owne
Aquarium there is a beautifI
specimen which weighs 500
pounds, and is so gentle Capital
William Kroll has taught it to ca
lfum his hand: unlike its brother
end sisters. this one also eats BIZ
ii fish cut up for that purpost
The Aquarium is at the north en-
a Whitehead Street. and whe
you visit there, ask the Captai
Is let you ride his gentle 50(
pound green sea turtle pet.
In preparing them for the MAJ
kets Of the world, nothing
wasted. II only the squeal of til
DC Is lost in preparation for tn