26 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



full moon in June. The female turtle proceeds some distance from 

 the water, and without turning around scoops out a hole in the sand, 

 using first one dipper and then another. Then, with the posterior 

 part of the body over the excavation, the turtle begins laying the 

 eggs. The latter are extruded in lots of 3, 4, or 5 at a time, with a 

 short intermissions between the lots until the process is completed. 

 The total number of eggs in each of 7 nests examiued ranged from 80 to 

 115. When the full complement has been laid the turtle returns to the 

 water, after carefully covering the eggs with sand. While engaged 

 in laying, nothing can disturb the turtle or drive her away. Striking 

 her with a stick or jumping up and down on her back apparently 

 produced no effect on her. 



It has been supposed by some that the turtle returns to the nest at 

 the time the eggs are hatching in order to head the young to the water, 

 but it seems probable that this view is not correct. It is true that the 

 turtle returns in about three weeks, but this is for the purpose of laying 

 more eggs, and this is repeated from four to six times during the sea- 

 son, so that as many as 700 eggs may be deposited by one animal. The 

 eggs are thought to hatch in about three weeks, and the young would 

 therefore appear at about the time the turtle returned for the next 

 laying. 



The hawksbill or tortoise-shell turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is found 

 on the southern coasts of Florida, and thence to the West Indies, the 

 Bermudas, and South America. The flesh is eaten to a slight extent, 

 although it is not highly regarded, and the eggs are also gathered for 

 food and for the manufacture of oil; but the great value of this turtle is 

 in its horny covering, which is the tortoise shell of commerce. 



The hawksbill turtle attains a smaller size than either the green 

 or the loggerhead turtle, but large individuals are sometimes taken, 

 and the maximum weight is probably over 400 pounds; on the Florida 

 coast those with a greater weight than 100 pounds are not common. 

 The shell of the smaller turtles is thin and of little use, but it increases 

 in thickness and value with the size of the turtle. 



CRUSTACEANS. 



The crustacean resources of Florida include shrinip, crabs, and the 

 spiny lobster or crawtish. 



At least two species of shrimps (Penceus setiferus and P. brasiliensis) 

 are taken in the Florida fisheries, but the fishery is not important and 

 the abundance and distribution of these animals are not known. In the 

 coastal States, both to the north and west of Florida, shrimps are com- 

 mercially valuable. 



The stone crab ( Menippe niereenarius) is found along the southern coast 

 from Charleston to Key West and along the entire west coast of Florida. 

 It lives in holes in the mud in estuaries and also in crevices in rocks. 

 On the west coast of Florida it is found in cavities in rocks and in deep 



