286 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



southern varieties, although regarded as inferior, 

 have come into demand, and at present the principal 

 supply comes from the Gulf States. 



Because of the great decline and the threatened 

 extinction of this valuable animal, which often brings 

 as much as six dollars a head on the market, the 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries at its Biological 

 Station at Beaufort, North Carolina, several years 

 ago undertook extensive studies of the habits and re- 

 quirements of terrapins. It has been found from 

 these studies that terrapins may be hatched and 

 grown in captivity nearly as easily and successfully 

 as chickens. It is believed by the investigators of the 

 Bureau of Fisheries that terrapin "farming" could 

 be made a profitable business. It is thought, further- 

 more, from the evidence which has been obtained, 

 that the natural waters may be repopulated through 

 artificial culture. To this end the Fish Commission 

 of North Carolina is now cooperating with the 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries. As a first step it 

 is planned to hatch and to liberate young terrapins 

 in the salt marshes of the sounds of North Carolina. 

 This work has already been begun ; and several thou- 

 sand young animals which had been held in captivity 

 until they had attained a considerable size, have been 

 liberated. 



Adult terrapins to be used in artificial culture are 

 confined in concrete inclosures on gently sloping 

 shores of sand or sand and clay. The pounds are so 

 constructed that a part of the inclosure is dry all 

 of the time, while a part always holds some water. 

 In the highest part of the pound there is built a 



