40 CHELONIAMYDAS. 



in three weeks. I have been informed that several Turtles were captured at 

 Tortugas, marked, and carried to Key West, there confined in a turtle-pen or 

 "crawl," which was destroyed by a storm; the animals escaped, and in a few 

 days were recaptured at the Tortugas. During the actual time of incubation 

 Turtles may be approached without caution, for they are then so intent on this 

 work of reproduction, that nothing will disturb them. 



It is during the breeding season that these animals suffer most from their 

 enemies; they are then taken in a variety of ways and are brought to our markets 

 in immense numbers, being held in high estimation as a wholesome and delicious 

 food. Many are caught at night on shore; these are turned on their backs, nor 

 can they resume their natural position, in consequence of the shortness of their 

 necks and peculiar arrangement of their fins, and thus they remain until they can 

 be leisurely collected the next day. Some are harpooned in the water; and great 

 nets are spread for others at the entrance of creeks and rivers. Numbers are 

 also taken by an instrument called a peg, which has been in common use 

 since the time of Catesby, who thus describes the process. "The way in 

 which Turtles are most commonly taken, is by striking them with a small iron 

 peg of two inches long, put in a socket at the end of a staff twelve feet long; two 

 men usually set out for this work in a light boat or canoe, one to row and 

 gently steer the boat, while the other stands at the head of it with his striker. 

 The Turtles are sometimes discovered by these men with their head and back out 

 of the water, but they are more often found lying at the bottom, a fathom 

 or more deep. If a Turtle perceives he is discovered, he starts up to make his 

 escape, the men in the boat pursuing him, endeavour to keep sight of him, which 

 they often loose and recover again by the Turtle putting his nose out of the water 

 to breathe. It is sometimes half an hour before he is tired, when he sinks at 

 once to the bottom, and this gives them an opportunity of striking him, which is 

 done by piercing him with an iron peg which slips out of the socket, but is 

 fastened by a string to the pole. If spent and tired, he tamely submits when 

 struck to be taken into the boat and hauled ashore." 



