362 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
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upon such a desolate shore. This island is a favourite retreat 
for the turtles. It is surrounded by reefs, which prevent the 
approach of their enemies, and the shores are gently sloping, 
admirably fitted for receiving their eggs. In 1862, a party of 
sailors, under the cover of night, made a descent on the island. 
They found on the shore a huge female turtle, evidently in 
search for a place to deposit her eggs. Six men seized her’to 
attempt to prevent her return to the sea, but their united efforts 
only had the effect of slightly retarding her progress, and she 
would have easily escaped, had it not been that another party 
came to their assistance, and they managed to turn her upon 
her back. By tying the fins to a spar, they were able to convey 
their captive on board, and found it weighed nearly 300 lbs. It 
had 347 eggs, and furnished food for the whole crew. 
The logger-headed turtle having a more convex carapace than 
the green or common turtle, is more rapid in its movements 
and is capable of turning itself back upon its legs; therefore, 
to keep it in its upturned position, a heavy stone is_ placed 
upon it. 
Another mode of taking these reptiles is to stretch a net 
made of thick ropes across the passage by which they seek 
the shore to lay their eggs. In the meshes of this net, they 
manage to entangle their heads and fins, and thus being pre- 
vented from rising to the surface of the water to breathe, they are 
drowned. It is necessary to dye this net a dark colour, for if it 
be grey or light-coloured, the reptiles are frightened, and return 
into the sea. 
Some turtle fishers seek them in the open sea. Knowing 
they must come up to breathe, they watch for the opportunity, 
and with great expertness fling a harpoon which penetrates the 
shell of the creature. A line is attached to this weapon, by 
which the wounded turtle is kept at play until exhausted, it is 
then drawn to the boat and secured. 
In the southern seas, expert swimmers softly approach the 
animals as they are asleep, and when close upon them, plunge 
the harpoon through their carapace. If the turtle be not of 
large size, the harpoon is dispensed with, and the creature 
secured by its fins. 
