86 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
other places. The results of these investigations have been set forth 
by Professor Hay in a special report to be issued by this Bureau. 
THE DIAMOND-BACK TERRAPIN. 
During the summer of 1903 Professor Hay also continued his studies 
of the terrapin of Chesapeake Bay, these investigations having been 
undertaken for the purpose of determining what, if anything, might 
be done to preserve this important fishery. Recent observations of 
the terrapin market indicated a serious decrease in the size and num- 
ber of these animals sold and an increasing difficulty on the part of 
the dealers in securing terrapin of commercial size. The native Ches- 
apeake Bay terrapin had become alarmingly scarce and the firms 
engaged in the business were securing much of their stock from the 
Carolinas and southward. 
The experiments carried on by Professor Hay were directed chiefly 
toward a study of the life history of the terrapin and the discovery of 
proper methods of caring for them while confined in pounds or other 
artificial inclosures. Little difficulty is experienced in retaining them 
in inclosures or in feeding them, but conditions under which they will 
breed freely while in such inclosures have not yet been found, and 
difficulty has been experienced in providing proper conditions for the 
development of the few eggs that are produced. Another difficulty 
has been to retain the young hatched in the pounds; while yet very 
small they frequently disappear and can not be found. The obstacles 
to success, however, do not seem insurmountable, and it is believed 
that a satisfactory method of terrapin culture will soon be developed. 
In early September the operations were transferred to Crisfield, 
where, at the pound belonging to Messrs. Tawes & Riggin, there 
was an opportunity to study a number of species of diamond-back ter- 
rapin and their behavior in captivity. It was ascertained that four 
well-marked species and one subspecies of the genus J/alaclemmys are 
now being sold for food, and that all of these can be profitably im- 
pounded in Chesapeake waters. As the entire lot of terrapin marked 
during the summer of 1902 was found to have lost the tags, another 
effort was made toward ascertaining the rate of growth by tagging 
over 100 individuals and releasing them in this pound. Early in the 
spring of 1904 the Bureau decided to establish a small experimental 
pound of its own, and for this purpose selected a spot on the Choptank 
River near Lloyds, Md. Six pens, about 20 by 40 feet, were built 
and stocked with the best Chesapeake terrapin. An abundance of 
flowing water and food is assured, and there are sand beds and sunning 
banks extensive enough for every purpose. It is hoped that by the 
end of another season definite information will have been obtained 
regarding the possibility of artificially propagating these vanishing 
animals. 
