224 ANIMAL FOOD EESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



countries, one of the most useful products which it has 

 deposited on the confines of land and water." Of these 

 we may notice the green turtle, the loggerhead or hawk- 

 bill turtle {Chelone imhricata, Schweig), furnishing the 

 tortoisesheU of commerce ; and the luth or leathery turtle 

 {Sphargis coriaeea, Rondelet). 



The flesh of some species of marine tortoises, but par- 

 ticularly of the green turtle {Chelonia Mydas, and C. 

 virgata, Schw.), is in the greatest request as a luxury for 

 the table, at least in England, and the animal itself is an 

 object of commerce. The arrival of a cargo of " lively 

 turtles " is by no means a thing of trifling importance. 

 Of late years the flesh is imported dried, which has 

 placed it within the reach of general consumers. Th^ 

 flesh is also salted in some quarters. All the turtl^fe 

 afibrd a considerable quantity of oil, which is employed 

 for various purposes. In some of the "West Indian 

 islands, it supplies, when f];'esh, the place of butter or 

 salad oil for culinary purposes, and it is also used for 

 burning in lamps. 



Turtle would seem to have been first introduced in 

 England as an article of food about the eighteenth cen- 

 tury, for a record in the " Gentleman's Magazine," under 

 date August 31, 1763, shows that it was then a rarity ; 

 and they did not know how to dress it. It states : — " A 

 turtle, brought by Admiral Anson, weighing 350 pounds, 

 was ate at the ' King's Arms,' Pall Mall ; the mouth 

 of an oven was taken down to admit the part to be 

 baked." 



Steam communication has greatly increased the im- 

 ports of this reptile. About 15,000 are now introduced 

 into our ports, and from thence to our kitchens, every 

 year. They are usually brought in casks open at the 

 top, the sea water being replenished.. They weigh from 

 ^ cwt. to 3 cwt. Not that all these shielded animals so 

 arriving can be called "lively turtle," for the voyage 

 has very often a damaging effect upon them, and they 

 have to be brought into flesh before they can be used' 

 for the table. 



