SOFT-SHELLED TUHTLES. 347 



one wbicli weighed a trifle over eighty-four pounds. 

 They fed greedily on anything that comes in their way, 

 but in spite of all their coarseness of feeding and 

 voracity they are very good eating, and may be cooked 

 in many ways. * Cat-fish chowder ' is a dish generally 

 recognised and appreciated throughout the Southern 



States. 



In the lakes are several kinds of Perch, the best of 

 which is called the Gaspargeaux. It is a fine silvery 

 fish, and sometimes grows to a weight of fifteen pounds. 



In all the rivers of Texas, Soft-shelled Turtles may be 

 caught of all sizes, from an ounce to a hundred pounds 

 in weight. They are delicious, whether made into 

 soup— in true city style— or cut into steaks. While 

 fishing I often found them a great annoyance, as they 

 would take the bait just when they were least wanted. 

 Four gentlemen of my acquaintance while fishing for 

 ' cats,' found the turtles very troublesome, and after a 

 short time they resolved on vengeance. Each man, 

 having caught one, attached the end of his line to its 

 shell, and then, thromng out his bait, held the turtle 

 on his back until another was hooked. A stout stake 

 had been firmly driven into the bank, and as soon as 

 turtle No. 2 was hooked, the hue was passed over the 

 pole, and the original captive was sent back into the 

 river on one side the post to drag up the second victim 

 on the other side. 



Any angler who is tired of salmon-fishing in Norway, 



