224 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



described subspecies. Apparently the diamond-backs have to a considerable 

 extent developed characteristic ecological forms or varieties in response to 

 environmental difference or to geographic isolation. Dealers have always 

 recognized geographic varieties: "Connecticuts," "Long Island terrapin," 

 "Delaware Bays," "Chesapeakes," and "Carolinas" (Hay, 1905). South 

 Carolina terrapin are considered inferior to North Carolina terrapin, and 

 Florida terrapin are still less prized. The term "Florida terrapin" in the 

 market has, however, generally been applied to the Gulf species found on 

 the west coast of Florida. I have been told by a well-informed dealer that 

 historically the Long Island terrapin were the premium terrapin of the 

 market. As the limited supply was depleted, Delaware Bay terrapin assumed 

 first rank. Somewhat later, but perhaps a century ago, the less exhaustible 

 supplies of the Chesapeake areas of Maryland and Virginia came to the 

 front and have held top rank ever since. 



How extensive was the practice, it cannot be said, but it was certainly 

 not uncommon in the past for terrapin to be sold from Georgetown, S. C, to 

 a dealer in Wilmington, then passed from Wilmington to a dealer in the 

 Beaufort, N. C, region and thence to Crisfield, Md. Thus, terrapin from 

 South Carolina might finally reach the city market as "Chesapeakes." 

 Doubtless the more expert fanciers, being able to recognize the varietal 

 distinction, were not always misled. In later years the "Carolina" terrapin 

 gained in market favor, particularly those not markedly different from 

 terrapin of the Chesapeake area, and shipments were generally made direct 

 from North Carolina dealers to the largest city markets (Coker, 1906, and 

 Hildebrand, 1929, p. 28). 



The distinctions between "Chesapeake" and "Carolina" diamond-backs 

 have been given on page 220. In regard to their respective distributions, 

 several qualifications must be made. In the first place, the terrapin of any 

 region are so variable in form that strictly dependable classification of 

 individual terrapin is often impossible: both "Chesapeakes" and "Caro- 

 linas" occur outside of their respective "book" ranges. Second, since the 

 supposed limits of the subspecies are within the State of North Carolina, 

 terrapin of either type would be expected to be native to the State. Thirdly, 

 through long periods of years southern terrapin have been shipped in 

 quantities from southern to northern coastal points to be held for months 

 in captivity, and many escapes must have occurred to give opportunity for 

 the mixing of tj^Des beyond that provided by nature. Finally, in the culture of 

 terrapin at the U. S. Fisheries Laboratory at Beaufort, large numbers of 

 Chesapeake terrapin have been imported and bred and have been allowed to 

 hybridize with native North Carolina terrapin (Hildebrand, 1929 and 

 1933)- The young reared from both stocks and their hybridization have 

 been widely distributed to all coastal states from Delaware to Alabama, and 



