FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 25 



REPTILES. 



The most valuable reptiles of the United States are represented in 

 the waters of Florida, and some of these occur there in greater abun- 

 dance and are commercially more important than in any other State. 

 The most prominent resources of this class are the alligator, diamond- 

 back and other terrapins, and three species of very large turtles. The 

 last named are the only important reptiles in the coastal waters and 

 their annual value exceeds that of all the other products of this group. 



The green turtle [Chelonia mydas), the most highly esteemed of the 

 marine turtles, is found on the Atlantic seaboard from Long Island to 

 Brazil, and hence along the entire length of the Florida coast, where it 

 is especially common among the Florida keys. Overfishing and the 

 destruction of its eggs have greatly reduced its abundance in this State, 

 and the annual catch is now much less than formerly. 



The green turtle breeds on the coast of Florida from April to July, 

 during which time the female seeks the sandy shores of keys or the 

 mainland in remote situations. She arrives at night, and with her dip- 

 pers digs a hole 1 or 2 feet deep in the sand, above high-water mark, in 

 which she proceeds to lay her eggs, numbering between 100 and 200. 

 The turtle then scoops the sand back over the eggs, smoothes the sur- 

 face to effect concealment, and rapidly retreats to the water, leaving 

 the eggs to hatch without further attention. The hatching occurs in a 

 few weeks, and the young make their way to the water; many, how- 

 ever, fall a prey to carnivorous birds and perhaps other animals. The 

 turtle returns two or three times to the same spot during the season, 

 each time depositing the number of eggs stated, so that the total num- 

 ber of eggs laid by a full-grown turtle in a year is from 300 to 000. The 

 green turtle attains an immense size. Examples weighing 600, 800, and 

 even 1,000 pounds have been taken in Florida waters, although such 

 large individuals are very rare, and the average weight in recent years 

 is probably under 150 pounds. In some parts of the State, where fish- 

 ing has been excessive, the average weight is much less than formerly; 

 for example, on the east coast it is under 50 pounds. 



The loggerhead turtle (Thalassochcli/s caretta) occurs along the 

 Atlantic coast from Virginia to Brazil, and is common on both the 

 east and west coasts of Florida, although much less numerous than 

 formerly. It is the least valuable of the marine turtles, and there is 

 little demand for its ilesh as food, although more eggs of this species 

 are taken than any other. It reaches an immense weight, surpassing 

 the green turtle in this respect. The maximum weight is 1,500 or 1,600 

 pounds, but the average weight in Florida is not much more than 200 

 pounds, although occasional examples weighing 600 pounds are taken. 

 Accordiug to Mr. II. A. Smeltz, of Tarpon Springs, loggerhead turtles 

 were very abundant some years ago in the vicinity of Stump Pass, 

 De Soto County, where he made some interesting observations of their 

 habits when they came ashore to lay their eggs at night during the 



