562 



The Living Animals of the World 



Photo by H. V. Letkmann. 



CUBAN TERRAPINS. 

 In common with many other water-tortoises, or terrapins, this species is essentially gregarious in its habits. 



clings pertinaciously with both hands to the shell of the neck until the creature is exhausted, 

 when it is dragged into the boat. 



The most remarkable method of taking turtle, however, is that practised in Torres Straits, 

 as also at Mozambique and formerly in the West Indies. The sucking-fish, or remora, is in 

 this case impressed into the service of the human fishers. Taking advantage of the fish's 

 natural propensity to swim towards and adhere pertinaciously to any larger floating object, 

 fishermen go out with specimens kept alive in a small well in the bottom of their boats. 

 When in pursuit of turtle, a long light line is attached to the fish's tail ; and coming within 

 sight of a Chelonian, the fish, with an abundance of slack or pay-out line, is thrown in the 

 direction of the turtle. The remora immediately swims towards and adheres firmly to the 

 under surface of the shell of the turtle, when it will suffer its body to be torn asunder 

 rather than let go its hold of its newly gained sanctuary. Should the turtle be a small 

 one, both fish and turtle are dragged with the line back to the boat. If, on the other hand, 

 it is of large size, one of the natives plunges into the water, and, following the line down, 

 secures the turtle. 



In the island of Ascension the cultivation and breeding of turtles for exportation in 

 artificially constructed enclosures have for a considerable time been the subject of an important 

 industry. There are doubtless many other locations on both the Australian coast-line and in 

 the British West Indies where this highly profitable trade could be established. In addition 

 to the green turtle, attention might also be profitably directed at the same locations to the 

 culture of the tortoiseshell-bearing species. Tortoiseshell possesses the singular and useful 

 property of being susceptible of perfect amalgamation. Consequently a number of small-sized 

 pieces can be welded so indistinguishably with one another as to serve the same use as the 

 larger plates for commercial purposes. This amalgamation is effected by bevelling the edges 

 of the two pieces that it is desired to unite along the proposed line of junction, and then, 

 while they are held in juxtaposition in a metallic press, submitting them to the action of 

 boiling water. 



