MODE OF CATCHING TUllTLE. 21 



degree of fineness with a sharp edg'ed Cyrena shell, 

 then t\^isted and laid up in three strands. 



Turtle forms an important article of food, and 

 four different kinds are distinguished at Cape York 

 and the Prince of AVales Islands. Three of these 

 can be identified as the Green^ the Hawksbillj and 

 the Log-o'erhead species, and the fourth is a small 

 one which I never saw. This last, I was informed 

 by Gi'om, is fished for in the following* extraordinary 

 manner. A live sucking* fish [JEcheneis jRemora), 

 having- previously been secured by a line passed round 

 the tail, is thrown into the water in certain places 

 known to be suitable for the purpose ; the fish while 

 swimming' about makes fast by its sucker to any 

 turtle of this small kind which it may chance to 

 encounter, and both are hauled in to^'ether ! 



The green turtle is of such consequence to the 

 natives that they have disting-uished by a special 

 name taken from the animal itself {siilangi from 

 sdlur) the season of the year when it is most 

 plentiful j this, at Cape York, usually extends from 

 about the middle of October until the end of No- 

 vember, but the limits are not constant. During* 

 the season they are to be seen floating- about on the 

 surface of the water, often in pairs, male and female 

 tog-ether. A few are caug-ht at nig-ht on the sandy 

 beaches, but the greater number are captured in the 

 water. The canoes eng-ag-ed in turtling-, besides 

 g-oing- about in the day, are often sent out on calm 

 moonlig-lit nig-hts. When a turtle is perceived, it is 



