306 Modern Fishcidture in Fresh and Salt Water. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



TERRAPINS. 



There are many species of terrapins, speaking by the 

 card, but to the market-man and epicure there is but 

 one and this is the "diamond back," so called because 

 of the markings on its upper shell. The flesh of this 

 animal, Malaclemmys palustris, is gelatinous and is 

 always stewed. Its almost fabulous price has led to its 

 being hunted so much that it is in danger of being ex- 

 terminated. It ranges from New York to Texas, but 

 the southern specimens are not in high esteem. Ches- 

 apeake Bay furnishes the greatest number, and Balti- 

 moreans not only think them the best but also believe 

 that they cannot be properly served outside that city. 

 Epicures of Philadelphia and New York have the same 

 notion regarding their own cities. 



They are sold by the dozen, or computed at that 

 rate, and a "count" terrapin is a female that measures 

 6 inches in length on the under shell. No male is ever 

 a "count." From this the price increases greatly; a 

 female of 8 inches, which is about the extreme size, 

 being rated as two "counts," more or less according 

 to the market. Twenty years ago the "counts" were 

 worth only the trifling sum of $20 to $30 per dozen, 

 but in 1888 they increased to $75 to $100 per dozen. 

 Suppose that a dozen would weigh 40 Ibs., at $100 they 

 would cost $2.50 per pound live weight, the most ex- 

 pensive morsel known in modern days. No wonder 

 that the southern yellow and red-bellied "sliders" come 



