EEPTIIiES, SNAKES AND AMPHIBIANS EATEN AS FOOD. 221 



before, in the opinion~of 'the epicure, it is fit for the 

 table. 



" There are also kept in some of the chests hundreds 

 of sliders or red fender terrapins, a fresh-water variety, 

 chiefly from the James river. The habits of the terrapin 

 have been made a study by the dealer. He keeps them 

 in air tight chests without food, and says they not only 

 exist deprived of air, but grow fat ; and if kept in the 

 chests for six months, will each weigh four to six 

 ounces more than when put in. If the terrapins are 

 allowed to have liberty or free air, even in the most 

 limited space, they become very poor, as they seem to 

 draw sustenance from themselves, but do not take food. 

 All the terrapins in the chests are in the enjoyment of 

 vigorous existence, as proved by their movements when 

 the lids are raised. 



" The terrapins are principally sold to hotelkeepers to 

 be served up at extra junketings, and they bring from 

 twenty -five to thirty-six dollars a dozen during the 

 season. In the terrapin season one house in Baltimore 

 will sell a thousand dozens." 



It is in Lent that terrapin commands its highest 

 prices. A dozen terrapins consist of twelve diamond- 

 backs, no one of which must be less than a " count ter- 

 rapin," that is, should measure seven inches in length on- 

 the under shell. The largest known do not exceed ten 

 inches in length and eight pounds in weight, and such 

 prizes are extremfely rare; usually they weigh about 

 3^ lbs. each. The seven-inch terrapin averages four 

 pounds in weight. " Sliders," the common river turtles 

 of almost all the rivers of the South, grow to a much 

 larger size. They bring from 6 dols. to 9 dols. a dozen. 



The two or three men who control the trade in Baltic 

 more say that they sell almost exclusively for private 

 tables. Terrapin are caught all the way from Savannah 

 and Charleston to the Patapsco and Gunpowder rivers, 

 but the genuine diamond-back belongs almost exclu- 

 sively to the upper Chesapeake and its tributaries. The 

 majority of the sliders come to Baltimore from the James 



