220 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



Not long ago a lady friend of the writer's set out alone 

 to row quite a distance to reach a certain fishing-ground, 

 and on reaching it, hot and tired, her first capture — quite a 

 superfluous one too she considered it — was a fifteen-pound 

 "soft-shell." What to do Avitli it? was the question, and 

 one not to be pushed aside for future settlement. It could 

 have been met by cutting the line and allowing the angry 

 leviathan of the deep to take itself and the hook to the 

 great unknown below. 



But our friend was plucky and hooks were scarce, and 

 so were such monster turtles as this. To cut the line was 

 out of the question ; yet here was the ugly creature ready 

 for a snap, and nothing but a little pocket-knife at hand 

 to amputate the threatening jaws — no hatchet nearer than 

 a mile across the water. And the fish, large trout, were 

 leaping all around, and this uninvited guest had monopo- 

 lized the only hook ! It was a hard case. But our friend 

 met it by tying the line short to a thwart at a safe distance 

 from her feet, taking up the oars and rowing home with 

 her captive, who took the place of the anticipated trout- 

 dinner. But now, when she goes a-fishing, several hooks 

 and lines and a hatchet go to make up her outfit. 



If only one can forget how very uninviting the soft-shell 

 appears when alive, and look at it only as it is on the table 

 — carefully stewed and seasoned and, if preferred, a little 

 wine added — no complaint will be made as to the quality 

 of the meat ; and it is besides very nutritious. 



There is yet another turtle found in all lakes, large or 

 small. But this one is neither snappish nor homely in as- 

 pect ; on the contrary, its appearance is rather attractive, 

 and its manners of the gentlest. Its shell is hard, decid- 

 edly arched, and well covered with clearly defined black 

 and orange blocks ; it is rarely caught with the hook; and 

 almost the only chance of capture is to watch the neigh- 



