274 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



elders, until we occasionally see them in what is called the chicken stage of growth, so 

 called from the resemblance of their flesh to that of the feathered barnyard favorite. 



The foregoing few items are about all that is known as to habits, but sufficient 

 seems to be established to form a reasonable hypothesis that much might be done 

 toward protecting the young and possibly caring for them until of marketable size. 



At present the probabilities are that but an exceedingly small number survive the 

 first week of existence, as low, perhaps, as 2 to 3 per cent. To prevent this loss may 

 or may not be an extremely simple problem, depending on whether turtles will mate 

 and deposit eggs in suitably inclosed feeding-grounds, or if the female alone, in a con- 

 dition to lay (these average about 20 per cent of the catch in May and June on one reef 

 at present), will carry out her maternal functions in captivity. If these two points are 

 negative, then is it feasible to import the eggs from the foreign depositories, consider- 

 ing the expense and possible complications as to ownership? And, lastly, would our 

 supposed food areas prove sufficient and suitable? The latter point, I think, can be 

 favorably answered, as our lagoons have long been known as feeding-places for the 

 smaller turtles, and it is fair to suppose that the younger ones could find, in the same 

 localities, a diet congenial to them ; therefore, if no serious obstacles were found in 

 their production, the subsequent existence up to the age of taking care of themselves 

 seems assured, and at a trifling cost, after once hatched. 



The statistics in regard to this branch of our fisheries are meager and of little 

 value. The few at hand seem to show that the average catch of mature turtles along 

 the reef by nets in the past twenty years seems to~be but slightly diminished. When 

 the fleet is augmented by boats and men, the catch per boat decreases and vice versa, 

 but it is very evident, from personal observation covering the same period, that our 

 feeding-grounds or inshore resorts for the smaller and more valuable sizes have become 

 almost depleted. This results apparently not from excessive fishing, but probably 

 from the gradual capture on the outer grounds of females which occasionally depart 

 from the instinct of going to remote places for incubation and lay their eggs on home 

 shores; for it is hardly possible that the young from the distant hatcheries across the 

 Gulf Stream should find their way back until fully matured and able to cope with their 

 natural enemies in transit. 



For verification of some mooted points, and for additional information on others, 

 I am indebted to Mr. 13. Vincent Archer, a lifelong fisher and close observer of the 

 green turtle in these waters. 



COCOANUT GROVE, FLORIDA. 



