TURTLES AND TURTLE-CATCHING 



tions, does get snapped up by a shark. In the case of the 

 divers in some localities one does not hesitate to say, 

 " Serve him right," for their abominable method of 

 obtaining tortoise-shell from the hawkVbill turtle is a dis- 

 grace to mankind. Some inhuman wretch once discovered 

 that shell taken from the living animal is more easily 

 treated, and may be a little more valuable than that from 

 a dead one, and so devised a means of effecting this 

 atrocious purpose, which is still in use in certain islands of 

 the Indian Ocean. 



The turtle is suspended over a slow fire, or, in some 

 cases, is tied down and covered with smouldering char- 

 coal, till the upper shell begins to curl outwards; then 

 this is torn off the body with knives, so that while still 

 hot it can be pressed flat between two boards. The 

 wretched creature thus not only tortured needlessly but 

 left for a time with no protection against possible 

 enemies, is turned loose into the sea again. This is 

 simply piling brutality on brutality, for though the shell 

 gradually forms again, it is thin and of poor quality and 

 practically valueless. The infliction of some pain is 

 almost unavoidable in any form of fishing; but that 

 there should be civilised buyers who are willing to profit 

 by such loathsome acts towards a defenceless creature is 

 a disgraceful fact. The turning loose of the turtle after 

 this brutal operation is a comparatively modern practice. 

 At one time it used to be killed when the shell had been 

 removed, and eaten ; but the march of civilisation has 

 taught the islanders that the flesh of the hawkVbill is 

 flavourless and unpalatable. 



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