THE TERRAPIN FISHERY. 



499 



5. TURTLE FISHERIES ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 



Ou our Pacific coast very few turtles are taken. Five or six hundred are brought annually 

 Mexico on steamers, and occasionally on schooners. In 1879 a schooner brought one hundred 

 and ninety turtles to San Francisco, retailed a number of them, and sold the remainder to a linn 

 of fish dealers for 87i cents apiece. The usual price received, however, is about $4 each. The 

 turtles weigh from 150 to 200 pounds. 



6. STATISTICS OF PRODUCTION. 



Production of salt and fresh water turtles in 1880. 



2. THE TERRAPIN FISHERY. 



1. THE TERRAPIN FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



ROANOKE ISLAND. The waters of Pamlico and Roanoke Sounds abound in terrapins, ana the 

 salt marshes on the south side of Roanoke Islands and on the western shore of Pamlico Sound are 

 favorite breeding grounds for them. A few also are found along the ridge on the eastern side, 

 which shuts out the ocean, but they are sufficiently abundant there to induce anyone to make a 

 business of gathering them. The terrapins, found in this locality are of medium size. 



Prior to 1845 no terrapins were shipped from this district, and the comparatively small num- 

 ber required by the inhabitants for their own consumption were gathered in summer by hand. la 

 1845, however. Mr. William Midgett, of Roanoke Island, invented a "terrapin drag," which he 

 used in obtaining a supply for himself during the winter, when the animals lie dormant, buried in 

 the mud. The dredge in use at present resembles the ordinary oyster dredge. The upper and 

 lower bars are .H or 4 feet in length and are separated at the ends by two hoops about 14 inches in 

 diameter. The lower bar is made of iron and is furnished with teeth 3 inches long, and the distance 

 between two teeth is 2 inches. The upper bar is made of wood. The bag is 4 feet in length. The 

 only difference between the original dredge and the one now used is in the lower bar, which in the 

 former was not furnished with teeth. 



The "terrapin drag" is used chiefly in winter when the terrapins are dormant in the mud, and 

 those who make an extensive business of dredging usually employ small vessels or large canoes. 

 They sail along the channels and mud-flats, carrying one dredge out over each side and one over 

 tin- stern. The pitch of the dredge is regulated by changing the position at which the lines are 

 fastened to two rings. After dragging for a few moments the dredge is taken up. The bunt of 

 the net is made with large meshes, and the mud and other de"bris readily passes through it. 

 Dredging is largely successful only when the water is sufficiently cold to chill the terrapins, and 

 make them torpid ; at other times they are apt to escape. 



Another form of apparatus used in the terrapin fishery in this region is the trap. It consists 



