502 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE "FISHERIES. 



1875 by the captain of one of the New York steamers, and were continued for several seasons. He 

 bought the terrapins, both large and small alike, at $4 per dozen. They were carried to New 

 York. The next shipments were made in 1878 by Mr. C. C. Morse, of Wrightsville Sound. In 

 1879 about 500 dozen, valued at $2,000, were captured, and a part shipped, and the remainder 

 eaten by the fishermen. None of the Wilmington dealers have entered into the business very 

 heartily. A law recently passed forbids the capture of terrapins in Brunswick County between 

 April and September. 



2. TERRAPIN FISHERIES SOUTH OF CAPE FEAR. 



The terrapin fisheries on the Atlantic coast south of Cape Fear are not very extensive at 

 present. Terrapins are found in considerable numbers in any of the creeks, bays, and sounds, as 

 far south as Fernandina, but they are especially abundant in the vicinity of Saint Helena Sound 

 and Bull's Bay, and in Saint Andrew's Sound. 



Terrapins are captured throughout this region by means of boats and seines. Vessels are 

 employed of sufficient size to go from one harbor to another, and even to run the risk of being 

 caught out in stormy weather. Each boat carries a seine and a bateau for ascending the shoal- 

 water creeks, where the seines are set and hauled. The seines are usually from 60 to 90 fathoms 

 long and 18 to 30 feet deep, the mesh varying from 4 to 5 inches. 



The terrapins generally remain in deep holes in the creeks, and the fishermen on entering 

 them commonly rap on the bottom or side of their boats with an oar or stick, in order to discover 

 their presence. It is said that upon hearing the noise the terrapins immediately come to the 

 surface to discover its cause. If no terrapins come to the surface after a noise has been made the 

 fishermen seldom set out their seine. In setting the seine a pole, to which one end of the net has 

 been fastened, is driven firmly into the mud. The seine is then set out in circular form from a 

 boat, and when the two ends have been brought together it is rapidly brought into the boat, the 

 terrapins gradually passing into the bunt. During the hauling of the seine the fishermen com- 

 monly rap frequently on the boat, in order to draw the terrapins from the bottom. This method 

 is known as "bucking." Since the decrease of the fisheries it has been largely superseded by 

 another method, known as "torching," which is practiced principally by negroes. Having pro- 

 vided themselves with torches they visit the sandy shores at night and catch the terrapins as 

 they come upon the beach to spawn. 



Fishing sometimes continues from the time of the first appearance of the terrapins, in April, 

 until the middle of October, when they bury themselves in the mud. At present, however, it is 

 frequently discontinued by the net fishermen during the breeding season. Occasionally the 

 winter beds are discovered, and entire colonies captured by "bucking" on them. 



The price now paid by dealers varies from 10 to 25 cents apiece, according to the season and 

 the locality, but at times it is difficult to find a market for them at any price. 



The statistics of men and apparatus for this region are as follows: 



Besides the three boats given here, others are employed a part of the time. The men cannot 

 be considered as engaged exclusively in this fishery. The total value of the nets is $560, and of 

 the boats $900. 



